Crystal Palace are eyeing Ukraine international Taras Stepanenko for the January transfer window.

The Eagles missed the chance to sign the Shakhtar Donetsk hardman, 30, for around £8million in the summer, says The Sun.

But Palace have now been informed that he will be allowed to leave the Ukrainian Premier League side in January.

Agent Barry O'Connor said: "There has been plenty of interest, good, experienced players will always attract attention."

He has been playing for Shakhtar since he completed a switch from Metalurh Zaporizhya in 2010.