Neil Warnock hopes to make Stoke City star Clint Hill his second Crystal Palace signing after confirming he is in talks with the no nonsense defender.

But the Eagles chief has played down reports suggesting he is ready to move for West Ham midfielder Nigel Quashie and Sheffield United central-defender Chris Morgan.

After picking up just one point from his opening three games as Eagles chief, Warnock is eager to strengthen his squad as he looks to guide his struggling side away from the relegation zone.

And after capturing Franck Songo'o on a month long loan deal on Monday, Warnock is understood to be on the verge of bringing 29-year-old Hill to Selhurst Park.

Warnock said: "I'm hopefully speaking to him today (Tuesday) - I've always quite liked him as a defender and he is the kind of player I want in the squad because he is a leader."

But reports linking him with Quashie and Morgan are, according to Warnock, wide of the mark.

"People expect me to go for players like Morgan and Quashie - but we can't afford them.

"They would be on twice as much money than what we've got."