IAN Holloway has downplayed reports of a possible loan swoop for controversial West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie.

The 31-year-old caused a storm last week by driving from the Midlands on transfer deadline day to London to hold talks with QPR despite not having permission to do so from the Baggies.

He was forced into a humiliating return to the Hawthorns and although Crystal Palace manager Holloway accepted the possibility of a loan switch for the player to Selhurst Park had been mooted, the Eagles chief believes it is highly unlikely to happen.

He said: “Someone contacted the chairman, the chairman mentioned ‘would I want him?’ and I said ‘good gracious me, of course I would’.

“But I don’t know what the situation is.

“Apparently his wife wants to come back to London I’ve been told.

“We are a London club, he can’t go to another London club now can he any higher than us so you might say I’ve alerted every other London club to probably getting Odemwingie.

“I don’t really think that is a realistic target for us.”

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