By Declan Warrington, Press Association Sport
Published: 20:23 GMT, 1 February 2019 | Updated: 20:29 GMT, 1 February 2019
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Roy Hodgson did not learn about Crystal Palace securing the signing of Michy Batshuayi until Friday morning - and the striker didn't even arrive at the club until late on Friday afternoon.
Palace loaned the Belgian, 25, from Chelsea just before the conclusion of the transfer window on Thursday at 11pm, having previously tried and failed to buy him on a permanent basis in 2016 and then when making more recent enquiries.
He is in contention to make his debut on Saturday at home to Fulham in the Premier League but was only considered an option for Hodgson against his former club from Friday morning when he finally learned that their long-term target was on his way.
Crystal Palace signed Michy Batshuayi on loan from Chelsea just before the window closed
Palace boss Roy Hodgson revealed he didn't know the deal had been done until Friday morning
'I went to bed not knowing, but it was a pleasant surprise to wake up to Doug's (Freedman, the sporting director's) text that it had been done, and my son's messages via WhatsApp, in America, saying how pleased he was.
'I knew at about 8.30pm (on Thursday) that a deal could be on and had been