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Saturday 02 May 1998

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TEL WANTS ANDERTON
AT THE PALACE

Exclusive By Harry Pratt

Crystal Palace are planning a sensational £6million summer-swoop for England and Tottenham winger Darren Anderton - now that the Mark Goldberg-Terry Venables revolution is all but in place.

The audacious attempt to bring the White Hart Lane international to Selhurst Park is the latest scheme devised by the imminent new chairman to revive morale at the doomed Premiership club.

Following a nine-month debacle which, even by their standards, was a disgrace, Palace are down and out, heading for the First Division. They have been relegated a record three times since the Premiership's inception in 1992-93.

This season's fall, however, is clearly doing nothing to stem the 'spend big, think big' policy of Goldberg and Venables, who could earn up to £15million if he stays for the full five years of his contract at the club where he started his managerial career.

Hence the proposed move for Anderton, no matter the size of fee and wages. The former Portsmouth star first linked up with Venables four years ago at Spurs in a £5million transfer and then, when fit, was a regular at international

level under the former England coach.

Although stepping down to a lower level may seem out of the question, the fact Anderton has spent the best part of two years on the sidelines at Spurs, earning his 'sicknote' tag, could mean the club decide to cash in on the crock.

Much will depend on Swiss coach Christian Gross remaining at the helm - he and Anderton have had several heated exchanges over the player's attitude - and the club surviving in the Premiership. If Gross goes and Spurs stay up, Anderton will stick in north London.

Should either scenario not materialise, however, Anderton will feel it is time to quit for new pastures. But whether any top-flight club will be prepared to pay the £6million Alan Sugar would want for a one-time Manchester United target is highly debatable in view of the huge question mark over his fitness.

And that would leave the door open for Venables, backed by the Goldberg millions, to weigh in with his bid to bring in more world-class talent to go alongside his other top internationals at the club Italian Attilio Lombardo and Yugoslav Sasa Curcic.

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