Lucas Perri joins Crystal Palace on loan to ease goalkeeping injury crisis

Palace were forced to use 39-year-old Julian Speroni during the 4-3 defeat against Liverpool

Crystal Palace have signed Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri from Sao Paulo on loan until the end of the season.

Julian Speroni became the Premier League's oldest active player when he made his first appearance of the season against Liverpool when injuries to Vicente Guita and Wayne Hennessey forced the club’s number three into action.

The club have an option to buy the 21-year-old at the end of the season.

Perri, who has played for Brazil Under-20s in the South American Under-20 Championship in 2015 and 2017, said playing for the Premier League side is the “opportunity of my life.”

“It’s an amazing feeling, I’m really glad to join the club. Two months ago, I knew [about] the possibility to join Palace,” he said.

“Since then, I was pretty anxious to be here because I really wanted that. It’s huge, it’s a really important thing to me. It’s the opportunity of my life and I’m going to do whatever it takes.”

Perri has been desperate to join the club after leaning of their interest months ago (Greg Coleman for CPFC)

Hodgson is coy on the possibility of the club bringing in another player and admitted he does not have a target in mind. “To say I’m expecting it, I’d have to have a definite name in the frame who is on the verge of signing and that’s not the case,” he said before the 4-3 defeat against Liverpool.

Palace have been looking to add a forward to the squad at Selhurst Park are waiting to see how Connor Wickham and Christian Benteke, both returning from long-term injuries, perform.

The club have been interested in bringing Everton’s Cenk Tosun, who Sam Allardyce was keen on during his time with the south London club, and Leicester’s Shinji Okazaki on loan.

Jairo Ridewald’s proposed loan move to Spanish side Celta Vigo is off after they signed Southampton defender Wesley Hoedt on loan until the end of the season.