Crystal Palace Manager Roy Hodgson Warns Premier League Suitors That Scott Dann Is Going Nowhere

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has addressed the rumours surrounding centre-back Scott Dann, insisting the defender is off limits.

Although several Premier League clubs such as Fulham have registered an interest in the 31-year-old, the Eagles' gaffer is not entertaining the news.

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Speaking ahead of Crystal Palace's match against Southampton on Wednesday, as quoted by The Sun, he said: “Why on earth we would want to let one of our centre-halves go and leave ourselves with an enormous shortage of talent and competition in an area like that, I don’t really understand.

“We’re not in a position where we can let players go. We’ve let eight go since the summer, we’ve trimmed down enormously. We’re not looking to move players out. If anything, we’ve got a vacancy for someone to come in if the right man turns up.”

Palace are set to take on Ralph Hasenhuttl's invigorated Southampton side, a critical game which has both teams looking for points in an attempt to gain some breathing room ahead of the relegation zone.

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Despite the importance surrounding the match Hodgson has played down its significance, claiming that there are still many points up for grabs. 

“It’s too early to start talking about six-pointer games. There are 15 matches left to play, that’s an awful lot of football," he added.

“You should keep your powder dry when it comes to discussing six-pointer games for the final four or five games of the season, when it’s obvious what can happen.”

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The news of Palace's goalkeepers Wayne Hennessey and Vicente Guaita have returned to training will come as a big boost to Hodgson, who now has a near-full squad to select from as the Eagles are determined to get back to winning ways in the Premier League.