Stags keep an eye on Price

The 29-year-old impressed while on loan from the Premier League club as cover for the injured Alan Marriott at the end of last season and Stags have since released back-up keeper Ian Deakin while, once again, there are also rumours that Marriott is contemplating retirement.

However, even if Price left Palace, wages could be a huge stumbling block with the massive gap between Premier and League Two pay packets.

Stags’ assistant manager Adam Murray said: “If Pricey wants to drop to this level and a deal can be done, then great. We will have discussions with him and see where his future lies.

“Another option is that we’ve got some good young kids coming through in that position so we’ll have to see if they could step up and make a claim to a place in the squad as back-up.”

Murray dismissed the rumours about Marriott’s retirement, saying: “Alan has a lot of experience. At 36 now he has played a lot of football but is still in really good shape. He is a good professional who looks after himself.

“I think he just sometimes feels a bit sorry for himself, jumping around and getting knocks and bruises.

“But he’s kept 15 or 16 clean sheets this season. If he wants to stay on board, that’s fantastic, but that’s his decision.”