Crewe boss Steve Davis believes signing former Fulham striker Lauri Dalla Valle would give the whole club a much-needed lift.
Crewe are working on a deal for the 23-year-old Finnish player, and Davis is hopeful of signing him before the end of the week.
Dalla Valle trained with the squad last week and scored both goals for Crewe's under-21s on Monday as they won 2-1 at Coventry City.
He had a successful two-month spell at the club during the 2012/13 season when on loan from Fulham, scoring five times in 12 starts.
But having been without a club since leaving Norwegian side Molde in March, Dalla Valle got in touch with Crewe.
Loan strikers Uche Ikpeazu and Nicky Ajose also arrived at Gresty Road last week, and Davis says securing Dalla Valle too would only add to the feel-good factor being generated by the club's transfer business.
The manager said: "He wants to come here, we've not gone chasing him.
"He got in touch with us, so that's a positive that he wants to play for a club where he knows he can develop and do well.
"From our point of view, he's a player who we know will add to the squad.
"He's already scored goals in this division, so he would be a great addition to what we have just brought in.
"If we can do a deal it will give everyone another lift, the players and the supporters. It would be a great statement."
Davis, pictured, travelled to Nuneaton on Monday to watch Dalla Valle in action against Coventry, and feels the striker is only going to get better as he gets fitter.
He added: "He did fine. He's a goalscorer, and even when his contribution in the game is minimal, he has the knack of being in the right place at the right time, which is very hard to find.
"He grabbed the ball for the penalty and there was no hesitation - he stroked the ball into the corner.
"He then scored with a glancing header, a great opportunist's goal, and that's what he can do."
The Alex boss hopes to have news on Dalla Valle's future by the end of the week.
Crewe can sign Dalla Valle, despite the loan transfer window closing last week, because the striker is without a club.