Town boss Roy Keane has confirmed that striker Pablo Couñago is expected to join Crystal Palace on a season-long loan today. The 31-year-old won’t be able to play in Saturday’s game between the two sides at Selhurst Park.
Keane said: "They’ve been in talks and I would expect some news on Pablo today. I think he’ll probably sign for them on a season-long loan. Pablo only has a year left on his contract anyway. I’d expect that deal to go through today.”
The Blues boss says there will be no new additions before the weekend and admits that he’s becoming increasingly frustrated: "I’ve been speaking to players for the last couple of months. I spoke to two players over the summer who wanted to come to the club, but the deals weren’t done.
"It’s all very well me speaking to these players, it’s not up to me to get the deals done. It’s up to the chief executive and the owner. We’re doing a lot of talking. There are loads of talks. I’m sick of talking, believe it or not!”
"It’s been frustrating this week. Last week you asked me the question and I was quite relaxed, but this week we’re disappointed, we picked up one or two injuries and we might have won the game last weekend had we had more options and more players available.”
Keane says he is continuing to look for several new signings: "I think we need three or four new players, not just one. We need cover.”
A fee for Wigan striker Jason Scotland was agreed more than a week ago, but that deal is understood to be on hold while the Latics find a replacement.
Keane says midfielder Grant Leadbitter will not be fit enough to face Palace after suffering an ankle problem against Burnley, but that wideman Carlos Edwards could be back from his groin injury.