‘Victim of circumstance’ –  Palace boss Roy Hodgson makes transfer window admission

Roy Hodgson says Crystal Palace were a victim of circumstance after they missed out on two players during the summer transfer window who were “pretty much assured” to be joining the club.

The Eagles signed Dean Henderson, Rob Holding, Jefferson Lerma and Matheus Franca over the summer window.

Palace were also working on deals for Chelsea youngster Lewis Hall – who joined Newcastle United on loan with an obligation to buy – and they were also heavily linked to PSG forward Hugo Ekitike on deadline day.

Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho was also a player that the South Londoners were repeatedly chasing.

When asked if the downside to the transfer window was the failure to increase the size of his squad, Hodgson said: “No, we were unlucky.

“Steve Parish and Doug Freedman worked very hard in the last week of the transfer window on two players who we thought pretty much assured to come to us.

“We actually counted on them and it would have made a big difference to the size of the squad.

“But unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we lost both of those and it was too late to get anybody else.

“We were victim of circumstance to some extent – it wasn’t bad planning or not wanting to do it.”

Michael Olise, Dean Henderson, Matheus Franca, Jefferson Lerma, Nathan Ferguson, Naouirou Ahamada and Odsonne Edouard will all miss tomorrow’s Premier League clash at Manchester United.

Hodgson, 76, added: “We have been exceptional victims of circumstance in terms of the injuries we have picked up. 

“It means going through this period in particular has made it very hard.

“It won’t change before the start of the international break.

“There is some hope and some light at the end of the tunnel that, with any luck, when that international break comes to an end, we might get a couple of these players back again and that will increase the squad.”