Sydney FC are reportedly ready to swoop for Crystal Palace midfielder Nick Carle.

The A-League club have labelled Carle as a priority for next season and have been in ongoing negotiations with him for three months.

It is believed the 28-year old is keen to return to his hometown if he can get a good enough deal even though he has recently broken back into Palace's first team in England's Championship.

The former Newcastle Jets star and A-League Player of the Year in 2006/07 has been away from Australia for the past three seasons after joining Turkish club Genclerbirligi and then moving on to Bristol City before setting up camp with Palace in mid-2008.

Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka is hoping to get him back to the A-League but it is unsure just what type of deal (wages and length) he will be offered.