IAN HOLLOWAY admits he is at least "four or five" players short of filling his 25-man Premier League squad.
The Eagles gaffer has spoken of his frustration at what he describes as a "ridiculous" transfer window and the difficulties his squad faces in competing with the big guns and their Champions League riches.
Holloway told the Advertiser: "It is a ridiculous amount of money that we need to spend, just to compete.
"Some of these clubs have had Champions League money for years, which means they are way ahead of everyone else.
"Chelsea have signed two players for £50m, it looks like Man City have near enough spent another £100m. How can we compete with that?"
Despite his concerns, Holloway brushed off any notion that he'd prefer to be riding high in the Championship, citing the Premier League as "the place to be" and "the best league in the world".
On the transfer window, which closes on September 2, the Palace boss added: "There is absolutely no good reason for it whatsoever. It is ridiculous."
So far this summer, the Eagles have strengthened their attacking ranks by signing Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh, and breaking their transfer record to buy Peterborough starlet Dwight Gayle.
Two wingers – Jerome Thomas and Elliot Grandin – have been brought in to plug the gap left by Wilfried Zaha.
Holloway said he was looking to strengthen all areas of the team, but claimed finding a few players to find the net on a regular basis would be key to Palace's survival prospects.
He added: "We've got to add some goals; we've lost 30 goals from last season [Glenn Murray's injury]. We've lost both Wilf [Zaha] and Murray.
"I'm going to be working my socks off to get more players in.
"We need four or five more to get to the 25-man squad."
Holloway said the Eagles fans will have a vital role to play this season, but urged them to enjoy the coming campaign.
"They've had more ups and downs than a roller coaster," he said.
"I hope they are excited, optimistic, but also realistic."
Holloway also gave hope to the Eagles younger players, saying he'd been keeping a close eye on the academy over the summer and that some of the "young ones might get a chance".
Gary Issott, the Palace Academy director, says he'll be doing all he can to make sure his boys are ready to take the huge leap into top flight football.
"From Championship to the Premier League it becomes a lot harder to get younger players in the team," he said.
"Nothing is impossible but we've just got to work with the players as much as possible.
"If the opportunity comes for a certain position that Ian Holloway needs, hopefully one of them will be ready for him."
