Dougie Freedman has admitted that it was a difficult transfer window for Crystal Palace this summer.
The Eagles signed five players in the summer transfer window, with three arrivals in the final week ahead of the deadline as Gary Cahill, Victor Camarasa and James McCarthy joined fellow new additions Stephen Henderson and Jordan Ayew.
But Palace only paid fees for two of the five players - Ayew and McCarthy - with Henderson and Cahill both joining on free transfers, and Camarasa joining on a season-long loan deal from Real Betis.
That was despite Palace selling Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United in a deal worth a reported £50million, although Freedman said that had a knock-on effect for the Eagles in the transfer market.
“It is a difficult market. People know we have got a bit of money from the Aaron Wan-Bissaka deal, so prices are inflated," he said, speaking on the Balance podcast, which was recorded during the summer transfer window.
“It is the first time we’ve been in this position and it is very difficult. Every Palace fan out there, of course they want us to sign some players and I get that, but we also want to be responsible.
“In the past, under certain sort of leaderships, it has not been responsible with signings and has left the club in difficult moments. I’ve been involved in them over the years and I don’t want that to happen.
“Signings are going to be shrewd, wise and we’re going to wait for opportunities and when they come we will be as good as anybody to be in the ring, but we have to be patient.
“My particular job is giving the manager the choices that are out there. There is scouting and there is recruitment. We have done the scouting, and there is a solid year of work there, but getting them is difficult because of the inflated prices."
But Freedman said he felt Palace have a good team, adding that the Eagles were trying to push on to become regulars in the top half of the Premier League.
However, he delivered a warning for fans not to expect things to happen overnight, and that ultimately the decision lies with clubs as to whether or not to sell players.
“We think we have got a good team, and we are trying to get into that top half on a regular basis. It is not easy, but I have seen in the past, if you try to do it too quickly, it can fail.
“Every year, under Roy [Hodgson], we are trying to move forward."
