His wife and children are already back living in Fife and the former Dunfermline star could follow them in the next few days.

He has been strongly linked with ex-boss Jimmy Calderwood, who is now at Aberdeen, as well as Hearts and even his former employers at East End Park.

It emerged today, however, that United, who have also been credited with an interest, are now the front-runners for a number of reasons. Argyle, despite getting the player on a free transfer, want a five-figure fee for his services and the Tangerines could be willing to come up with the money.

Dunfermline are now in aposition to pay for him, while Aberdeen’s geographical situation counts against them.

Hearts, meanwhile, had wanted him in part exchange for their Dutch striker Mark de Vries, who is in the last six months of his Tynecastle contract.

He, though, looks bound for Leicester in the transfer window and that would appear to rule out a move to the capital for Crawford.

United have not been commenting on their bid, but it is understood negotiations between the clubs are well advanced and Crawford himself has indicated an initial willingness to come to the city of Dundee.

One problem is the precarious league position, but, with chairman Eddie Thompson determined that situation will be rectified with the help of transfer window signings, that could be resolved.

Crawford is not the only signing target and the next week or so should see defender Paul Ritchie fixed up on a long-term deal, while the addition of former Dundee defender Lee Mair from Stockport also remains on the cards.

Meanwhile, United boss Ian McCall has revealed key defender Ritchie was struck down by an asthma attack minutes before yesterday’s defeat by Hibs.

Tannadice fans were surprised to see Ritchie already out on the pitch as the teams emerged for kick-off.

“Paul took an attack before the game and he went outside to acclimatise himself to the conditions. He didn’t look right and, in the end, I think he has done well to play,” said Ian.

Without attempting to make excuses for a 4-1 loss that saw the Tangerines crash back to the bottom of the SPL, there was a feeling in the home camp that Ritchie’s attack and the result were not unconnected.

He had his least impressive game since joining United, and it was the first time since he returned from injury early last month that the team has lost more than a single goal in any game.

Despite the mitigating circumstances, an 11th defeat in 20 league games has put McCall’s position under the microscope again.

At the beginning of the month, he was publicly told by chairman Eddie Thompson that results and performances had to improve.

That happened with a win over Kilmarnock a few days later. But the last two games have seen defeats at Celtic and now yesterday’s home drubbing.

Meanwhile, United manager McCall went over a video of yesterday's defeat against Hibs and categorised all four goals lost as “crazy” (writes John Brown).

He said, “In the last 11 games before the Hibs match we conceded just 10 goals and even four or five of them were down to individual errors. But all four lost yesterday were just crazy.

“At 2-1 down we missed a great chance, then, at 3-1, we missed an even greater chance.

“Each of these times we were playing well and that would have got us back into the game.

“I’ve been a manager for six or seven years now and you just can’t legislate for individual mistakes like that.”

McCall also revealed that Karim Kerker was not available for yesterday’s game or for training today as he is in bed with a flu bug.

The manager did intimate that he would freshen things up, hopefully, for the game against Rangers on Saturday with one or two changes.