Holloway bemoans expensive transfer market

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway believes recruiting players is harder now than the last time the club were in the Premier League.

Holloway guided Palace to promotion last season via the play-offs, returning the club to the top flight for the first time since 2005.

However, the former Blackpool boss noted that there is a different financial landscape now.

“The chairman is learning, I am finding out how even more difficult it is compared to last time because of the zillions of extra quid that everybody’s got,” Holloway said after Palace’s 2-1 friendly victory against Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday.

“Everybody’s asking for all sorts of things and it is almost ridiculous to get a deal done.”

Holloway has made five signings this close-season and hopes to make further additions before the campaign gets underway on August 18 against Tottenham.

“We’re trying to bridge that gap as quickly as we can,” Holloway continued.

“I am watching players and players and players and players and players until I get that balance in the group that I want.

“My chairman is a bright fella and learning very, very quickly and hopefully some of the deals we need to get done, so I have at least four weeks with someone to impress on them.”

The likes of Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Elliot Grandin have both been on trial at the club in recent friendlies.