Transfer news: Crystal Palace sign Adrian Mariappa

Bendtner has struggled to hold down a first-team place with the Gunners, and has been out on loan for the past two seasons

James Legge
Tuesday 03 September 2013 10:06 BST
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Nicklas Bendtner was on loan at Juventus last season
Nicklas Bendtner was on loan at Juventus last season (GETTY IMAGES)

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Crystal Palace could be toasting three new arrivals when the transfer window slams shut tonight, signing Adrian Mariappa and still eyeing a deal for Nicklas Bendtner.

Mariappa - who hasn't started a game for Reading yet this season - has signed on a three-year deal.

The 26-year-old becomes Holloway's 13th signing of the window.

He told the club's official website: "I'm delighted to be joining Palace and playing in the Premier League again. It's something everyone dreams of doing.

"Playing there last season was a great challenge as it is is the biggest league in the world and you're playing against the best players, so when this opportunity came to me I jumped at it.

"Selhurst Park is always a great place to play, the atmosphere has always been amazing and I've had some great games against this club.

"I want to prove I can play at this level and I'm sure that will be the same for everyone in the squad as we aim to stay in the Premier League."

The 26-year-old joined Reading in 2012, after seven years at Watford.

And Arsenal's Bendtner was seen leaving Palace's south London training ground this afternoon. The Denmark international has struggled to hold down a first-team place with the Gunners, and has been out on loan for the past two seasons – at Sunderland in 2011/12, and Juventus last season.

A deal for Huddersfield full-back Jack Hunt, 22, was confirmed earlier in the day, with the defender brought in to provide competition for Joel Ward.

Bendtner, 25, didn't get a single goal during his stint in Italy, and would have to take a pay cut from his £52,000 per week wages to move to Selhurst Park.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger did say last week that it seemed unlikely Bendtner would leave, saying: “The chance for Bendtner to leave now is very small. If he comes back well and gets fit, I will use him.”

If signed, he would join fellow Arsenal flop Marouane Chamakh, who joined the Eagles on a free transfer earlier in the summer.

Ian Holloway's side got their first points of the season on Saturday, in a 3-1 home win over Sunderland.

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