Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway admits he's finding the summer market a hard slog.

Veteran striker Kevin Phillips became the Eagles' fifth summer signing but Holloway is well aware that more work is needed.

"We're trying to bridge that gap as quickly as we can," he said.

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

"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.

"Everybody's asking for all sorts of things and it is almost ridiculous to get a deal done.

"But 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.

"We need to do it quickly if I can and have a slightly better chance than I did last time."