Crystal Palace Chase Bhasera Signature Again

English Championship side Crystal Palace are once again chasing the signature of Zimbabwe international and Plymouth Argyle defender Onismor Bhasera.

Manager George Burley is determined to land the Zimbabwean who has impressed since his arrival from a messy contractual divorce from South African Premiership side Kaizer Chiefs.

Palace tried to lure the 24 year old Bhasera last summer but Plymouth stuck to their guns and said the player was going nowhere.

Bhasera travelled to England in the summer of 2009 for pre-season training with Portsmouth, under the belief that he was a free agent. He impressed the club enough for them to offer him a contract in August 2009, and he successfully applied for a work permit. Chiefs however claimed he was still their player.

Bhasera spent time training with Queens Park Rangers, the club then managed by Paul Hart who had tried to sign him while still manager at Portsmouth. There was a twist in the tale as Sheffield Wednesday tried to sign him, having made it clear they were willing to pay Kaizer Chiefs a transfer fee.

It was only a knee problem that made the Sheffield Wednesday deal fall through, and Bhasera began training with Plymouth Argyle in February 2010 after FIFA ruled he was a free agent and therefore eligible to join a club outside the transfer window.

As of October 2010 Bhasera had made 15 appearances for his Zimbabwe national team.