Steve Parish admitted he was “astounded” by the lack of significant interest in Eberechi Eze during the summer transfer window.
Crystal Palace sold Michael Olise to Bayern Munich for a fee in the region of £50million in July, and feared that more of the club’s big names could follow the Frenchman in leaving.
Joachim Andersen joined Fulham, but Palace resisted significant interest from Newcastle in Marc Guehi, rejecting a £65m bid.
Eze, meanwhile, was linked with Tottenham earlier in the summer and then with Manchester City, particularly after Oscar Bobb suffered a serious injury ahead of the new season.
Reports suggested there was a £60m release clause, which is said to have expired last month, in the 26-year-old’s contract, but Palace chairman Parish revealed no serious approaches were made.
"I was really worried from a club point of view of losing Michael and Ebs in the same window,” he told Sky Sports.
“We didn't have in Ebs the interest that I thought we would have. I was astounded. Genuinely astounded. I mean, the guy's just an outstanding footballer, an outstanding person. He’s a gift to any football club.
“I don’t think any Crystal Palace supported would mind that fact that at some point Ebs wants to play at the highest level. He’s playing regularly for England, back in the squad again which we’re so proud about.”
He added: “Ebs is still here and it’s great for the football club. I was surprised that that’s what happened.”
Eze’s contract runs until 2027, but Guehi will enter the final year of his existing deal next summer, leaving Palace with a decision to make if fresh terms are not agreed.
While Parish held firm in the face of Newcastle offers this summer, he insisted he can accept players viewing Palace as a “pathway” to bigger clubs and Champions League football.
"We want to be a destination club in the end," Parish said.
"That's what we want to be. We want to be playing in the Champions League, but the reality is we don't right now. That's what players want to achieve in their career and we respect that and we respect the fact that sometimes we're going to be a pathway to that.
"We're proud that Michael's [Olise] gone to Bayern Munich. We want to be selling to the top clubs or to clubs like Newcastle who have got great aspirations and have recently been in the Champions League so we have to manage all of those things.
"We won't get really great young talent come to us if they think they're going to be stuck. Equally, the players have got to realise that the club comes first and we have got to do our best to make sure that the club thrives."
