Crystal Palace are hoping to beat Hull City to the signing of Blackburn Rovers striker Rudy Gestede, sources have told ESPN FC.
Hull were thought to be leading the chase to sign Gestede, but now Palace are planning a late move to hijack the deal.
Palace boss Alan Pardew admitted on Thursday he wanted to sign another striker in this month's transfer window despite the arrival of Yaya Sanogo on loan from Arsenal.
Swansea forward Bafetimbi Gomis was Palace's top target, but Swansea are refusing to sell him after losing Wilfried Bony to Manchester City, forcing Pardew to look elsewhere. And sources said Pardew has now set his sights on Blackburn hit-man Gestede.
The 26-year-old has scored 25 goals in 50 appearances for Rovers since joining initially on loan from Cardiff City in 2013, before making the move permanent in January 2014.
Rovers are reluctant to lose Gestede but will find it hard to resist a sizable offer for the Benin international because of their financial problems, with Palace prepared to pay 4.5 million pounds to land the player.
"Hull City have shown interest [in Gestede]," Rovers boss Gary Bowyer confirmed Thursday.
"There has been interest from several Premier League clubs in Rudy. Does it surprise me? No, it doesn't.
"With all due respect, 12 months ago not many people had heard of Rudy Gestede. Now he's burst on the scene and he's been a great bit of business by us.
"Do we want to sell him? No, not at all. But I am aware of the financial situation and that decision would be out of my hands," he said.
Information from PA Sport was used in this report.