Crystal Palace signs pre-contract with Getafe’s Vicente Guaita

Roy Hodgson is bringing a third goalkeeper to Selhurst Park.

On Friday, Hodgson said Crystal Palace have signed a pre-contract with Vicente Guaita, and that the Spanish ‘keeper will join the Eagles in July, once the shot-stopper’s contract with Getafe CF is expired. Los Azulones reportedly resisted interest in the product of Valencia CF during the January transfer window, including a bid valued at around £2 million.

“We have signed a pre-contract with Vicente Guaita so he will join us on 1 July,” Hodgson said, according to the Guardian’s Dominic Fifield. “We would have liked to have tried to persuade the club to sign him in January but they didn’t want to do that, which is their right because his contract with them does not run out until the summer. It is good news that we will have him from 1 July and he will boost our goalkeeping contingent in the way I was hoping it would be boosted.”

The only two ‘keepers at Hodgson’s disposal are Wayne Hennessey and Julian Speroni, who are splitting minutes this season. Meanwhile, Guaita is enjoying a superb campaign, and is one of the main reasons why Getafe is just five points outside of a European spot.