On Monday evening, it was confirmed that Victor Camarasa's strange loan spell at Crystal Palace had come to an end as Deportivo Alaves announced his arrival on a deal until the end of the campaign.

The Spaniard managed to get just five Premier League minutes under his belt since joining the Eagles on loan from Real Betis back in the summer, while also making one start in the Carabao Cup against Colchester.

In light of his exit, Roy Hodgson can now channel his attentions elsewhere.

What's the word, then?

Well, the 25-year-old's departure means that the former England manager now has an extra loan spot available to him, as reported by The Evening Standard.

Premier League clubs are allowed to register a maximum of four players on loan deals.

Hodgson had just two loan spots remaining after the arrival of Cenk Tosun from Everton while Camarasa was still classified as a Crystal Palace player, but after his exit, the 72-year-old can now look to utilise an extra spot.

Can now add to problematic areas

The Evening Standard also add that Hodgson is looking to sign five new faces this month.

Camarasa was barely used during his six-month stay in SE25, and a reason for that could potentially be that Palace are extremely well-stocked in the midfield areas.

Hodgson has Luka Milivojevic, Cheikhou Kouyate, James McArthur, James McCarthy, Max Meyer and Jeffrey Schlupp at his disposal in the middle of the park, so Camarasa's departure frees up an extra spot for the Palace boss to add to an area more desperate for reinforcements.

Those departments include the full-back areas, in which Patrick van Aanholt and Joel Ward are the only natural options, while the Eagles are quite short of wingers with only Wilfried Zaha, 18-year-old Brandon Pierrick and the injured Andros Townsend suited to the wide attacking spaces.

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It remains to be seen if another loanee follows Tosun through the door, although Hodgson can now focus on locating one to bolster an area more in need of it, rather than have Camarasa take up a spot to compete in an position that really didn't - and doesn't - need anymore competition.

In other news, these Crystal Palace fans have been discussing a transfer update on a player who has "lost his way lately"...