Roy Hodgson returns his verdict on the transfer market in January of the Crystal Palace



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Roy Hodgson said it was a "good window" for Crystal Palace after three signatures in January.

The Eagles signed a late contract with Michy Batshuayi, loaned by Chelsea on the day of the deadline, the Belgian striker becoming the third to arrive in South London in the window of winter transfers, succeeding Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri and to the Malian international Bakary Sako.

And the palace boss was a happy man when he spoke to the media this afternoon (Friday) before the Eagles match against Fulham at Selhurst Park tomorrow (Saturday), while Hodgson was encouraged by the signing of Batshuayi, a player that he said he had been hunting for some time.

"I am [happy with the squad I have got]," he said.

"The summer has been good in this regard, but the first [January 2018] It was certainly not.



Bakary Sako looks at St Mary's Stadium (Image: Dan Istitene / Getty Images)

"It's a good window for us, without spending any money to buy anyone, we've recovered Bakary Sako, which I'm really happy about, because he's a player we would have liked to keep beyond summer.

"And now we have Michy Batshuayi, a player who, had it been announced that we were going to pick her up at the beginning of the transfer window, I would have bit your hand.

"OK, we have it at the end of the transfer window, not at the beginning, but to bring in two players of that quality, that flair of attack and that ability to score goals, it's a something with which every manager must be happy.

"We did not lose anybody either, other than players like Jonny Williams and Jason Puncheon, who were probably the two biggest players who left us, and who both deserved the chance to go play at the same time. football elsewhere.



Jason Puncheon reacts in the second round of the Carabao Cup game between Swansea City and Crystal Palace at Liberty Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Dan Mullan / Getty Images)

"I would have been wrong, in my opinion, to nail them here and deny them this opportunity because for their service to the club and the people that they are, they deserve to have the chance to go play, and I'm happy for the two that they left and that they play. "

Meanwhile, Hodgson believes that Palace did well to bring in Batshuayi, whom he called a "recognized scorer".

Indeed, the palace boss praised President Steve Parish and sports director Dougie Freedman for reaching the deal, but Hodgson hoped that the Belgian could be a success by the end of the year. of the season.

And he says that although it may not have lent him to Valencia during the first half of the season, he was impressed by Batshuayi's attitude as he tried to prove his worth in England.

"It's a pretty short period [at Valencia]But to be fair to him, he moved out and he showed he did not just want to be part of a team and make money, he wanted to go play football, "Hodgson said.



Michy Batshuayi (Image: Alain GROSCLAUDE / AFP)

"He showed that by leaving Chelsea to go play in Dortmund, then Valencia, and again when he was clearly explained that he would not be first on the score sheet.

"He has nothing to prove to me, I know he's a very good player and he scores goals, that's the type of player we're looking for.

"His resume is very good and I'm sure he will look to complete this resume and leave behind the first six months of the season, when it may not be as good as he would have liked.

"But if he had done well in Valencia and had scored 15 goals in 22 games, we might not see him here at the Palace, so maybe we should be grateful. that it did not go so well in Valencia. "

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