Roy Hodgson fears he will be left short in the transfer market once again as Crystal Palace drag their heels over January deals.
The Palace boss has been clear since the start of the season what was needed in this winter window. The 73-year-old wanted four new players; two strikers and two full-backs, and had called for more than loans and free transfers. Only Cenk Tosun, a six month loan from Everton, has arrived as a first-team player.
Hodgson described Palace's summer window as a failure after the club did not replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka following his £50million move to Manchester United.
That decision, as well as the failure to add cover for Patrick van Aanholt at left-back, has come back to hurt the Eagles this season.
Palace had approached Tottenham over a deal for Kyle Walker-Peters in the summer and revived their interest this month, with Hodgson uncharactersitically breaking his silence on the speculation to try and push through a move. Despite tracking the 22-year-old for some time the south Londoners have lost out to Premier League rivals Southampton, who have agreed a loan deal with Spurs this week.
Former England manager Hodgson is now forced to look to the players returning from injury to act as new signings. Andros Townsend, Patrick van Aanholt and Christian Benteke are all back in training this week while captain Luka Milivojevic will be available following suspension when Palace host Sheffield United on Saturday.
