Cardiff City midfielder Richard Langley's move to Selhurst Park failed to materialise because Iain Dowie believes he already has better midfielders at the club.
Langley spent a week on trial with the Eagles at the club's training ground during the summer transfer window, but Dowie felt he already had enough quality in that area and Langley instead rejoined former club Queens Park Rangers.
Dowie's assistant Neil McDonald said: "Iain decided he wasn't as good as the midfielders we already have here.
"He came down and trained but a deal was never struck."
Despite attempts to bring in new faces just before the window shut last Wednesday, Palace were left empty handed after main targets, including Arsenal midfielder David Bentley, chose to join alternative clubs.
The only piece of business the Eagles made was releasing Finnish winger Joonas Kolkka after Iain Dowie lost patience with the winger's inconsistent Palace career.
Kolkka, 30, was signed by Dowie last summer from Borussia Monchengladbach, but after a bright start, which included a memorable strike against Liverpool at Anfield, the Finn faded in and out of the team and never really cemented the Palace left wing berth.
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