Johnson set for Palace deal

Andy Johnson is in talks with Crystal Palace about a new contract after hitting 24 goals this season.

The in-form striker has two years left on his current deal but Eagles boss Iain Dowie and chairman Simon Jordan are keen to tie him down long-term.

Dowie told the club’s official website, www.cpfc.co.uk: “The chairman and Andy have been in discussions about a new contract, it’s something we’d like to do.

“We very much hope that he’ll be our player for a few years to come.”

The 22-year-old’s 11 goals in his last nine matches have propelled Palace into play-off contention, and Johnson wants to commit his future to the club.

Portsmouth goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek is on the verge of signing for West Ham on loan.

The 35-year-old former Czech international is training with the Hammers with a view to a one-month move.

Former Nottingham Forest striker Mickael Antoine-Curier is on trial at Notts County, where Magpies boss Gary Mills is keen to boost his strike options.

On-loan forward Andy Parkinson has been recalled by Sheffield United, leaving Mills short of numbers up front.

Former Port Vale manager Brian Horton believes the side he left behind at Vale Park is good enough to win promotion this season.

Horton, who has now been replaced by Martin Foyle, left the club last week with Vale narrowly outside the Division Two play-offs.

He said: “I had a meeting with the players before I left and gave them all my best wishes and told them that they can still get promoted this season.”

Derby striker Izale McLeod has given a cool response to news that clubs from Russia and the Ukraine are keen to sign him.

The out-of-favour forward and Pride Park team-mate Pablo Mills are interesting Russian side Shinnik Yaroslavl and Ukrainian club Metallurg Donetsk.

But McLeod said: “This has come out of the blue really and it’s flattering but I want to play for Derby County so I’m not looking to move.

“My aim is to get back into the first team on a regular basis and I hope to be in the side which plays against Crystal Palace on Saturday.”

McLeod has managed just eight appearances so far this term, scoring once, while Mills has made 20 appearances – the last coming in January’s FA Cup third-round exit at Ipswich.

Barnsley Chairman Peter Ridsdale is confident Garry Monk will sign on a permanent basis before the weekend.

The 25-year-old on-loan Southampton defender will complete his three-month loan spell at Oakwell following Saturday’s match against Wycombe.

Bolton midfielder Jeff Smith has agreed to join Rochdale on loan for a month.

Smith becomes the third Bolton player currently on loan at Spotland – Danny Livesey and Kangana Ndiwa arrived recently – and goes straight into the squad for this weekend’s home clash with Cheltenham.