"?Crystal Palace appear to be edging closer to the signing of Norwich star Robbie Brady as manager Sam Allardyce looks to shore up his team's left flank ahead of what is now going to be a fierce battle to stave off Premier League relegation.
According to a report from The Guardian, a £9m deal has been agreed between the clubs, one that could eventually rise to £12m in time.
It is said to be an identical agreement to the one made to sign Patrick van Aanholt from Sunderland. With Brady capable of operating as a left-back as well as on the left-hand side of midfield, it now remains to be seen which deal that Palace will choose to finalise.
The versatile Jeffrey Schlupp has, of course, already arrived from Leicester as well, so going with both Brady, a star of Ireland's Euro 2016 campaign, and Van Aanholt seems unlikely.
From a Norwich perspective, it comes just days after alternative left-back option Martin Olsson was sold to Premier League strugglers Swansea, suggesting the Canaries will be dipping into the market themselves - a €3.5m deal for Sporting CP's Marvin Zeegelaar is rumoured.
Left-back in particular has been a problem position for the Palace ever since Pape Souare was involved in a career-threatening car accident back in September. Martin Kelly, Joel Ward and Zeki Fryers have all been used in recent weeks.
Palace have one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League and are now completely desperate for wins after slipping into the bottom three.
The team has picked up just two points from a possible 24 across their last eight games, and has managed only 27 points from their last 38 games - the equivalent of a whole league season - in a run of truly disastrous form over the last 12 months.
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