Crystal Palace are set to bid for Dundee United star Scott Banks this month.
The Premier League outfit are long-term admirers of the teenage winger and are also aware that their rivals Arsenal and Manchester City are also watching the situation closely.
Palace know they could land the 18-year-old for as little as £200,000 if they wait and sign him on freedom of contract, but will try and get him sooner.
The Eagles tried to land him in the last window but couldn’t agree a fee but now are in a stronger position as Banks is now going into the last five months of his Tannadice deal.
Banks has fallen out of the picture at United and has not played since he knocked back a new contract.
United are also actively trying to strengthen their own squad in this window, as they look to seal the Championship title and a return to the Premiership.
Robbie Neilson has a number of trialists in that he will run the rule over and will watch in a closed door game on Tuesday night.
American midfielder Dillon Powers and ex-Dundee Untied defender Kieran Freeman are amongst them.
Powers, 28, has had spells at Austin Aztecs, Colorado Rapids and Orlando City.
United have signed fellow American Ian Harkes last year.
Freeman, 19, came through the ranks at United before he was sold on to Southampton.
Troy Brown was released earlier in the window although striker Osman Sow has returned to Tannadice after his injury-hit spell at Kilmarnock.
