New Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage insists that the Eagles will not rush into making additional signings during the summer transfer window, adding that a player must be the right fit for the club rather than just bringing someone in for the sake of it.
Following Oliver Glasner's departure at the end of the 2025/26 season, Sage was appointed on a three-year contract in mid-June and has overseen a busy summer for the club.
So far, the reigning UEFA Europa Conference League holders have made six additions to their side ahead of the 2026/27 season, with USMNT U20 star Zavier Gozo becoming the latest addition to Sage’s side, coming in from MLS side Real Salt Lake.
The other new additions alongside Gozo include Oscar Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Dwight McNeil, Evann Guessand and Anan Khalaili.
Despite the busy summer so far, Sage still expected more business to be done before the transfer window slammed shut on September 1st.
“Yeah, maybe one or two more players [will join]. As I said on Monday, we have time. We don’t want to take a player who is not for us; we just want to take the good players for us.
“That is why it’s not about one or two days, because we have to work with all these guys during the season, and sometimes it’s better to wait than take the first who come”
As well as incomings, there have been a few outgoings for Palace, with Maxence Lacroix’s £52 million move to Chelsea by far the most significant. Sage admitted that a centre-back was high on the agenda for the Eagles, but refused to be drawn into any speculation of specific names, such as Axel Disasi.
“First of all, we need a player in this department, a player with a lot of games, if possible, in the Premier League, because we need the players, but we need a leader, and that is why we need to wait a little bit to find a good one.
“He [Disasi] is a player from Chelsea; it is difficult for me to speak about a player from another club, but I hear the same noise as you.”
Reports also emerged that Manchester City had made an enquiry to sign midfielder Adam Wharton, but Sage reaffirmed the club’s message that the England international would stay at Selhurst Park.
“I think that now is not the moment to do that. I think he is able to play in a big club, here or in Europe, but in one year we assess. One year with the new dynamics will be good for him, and we need him.
“That is why I think he will stay with us this season. I hope he continues to improve and has other arguments to leave; that is why we work every day, and he gives his best every day too.”
Sage also confirmed that Daniel Muñoz was happy at the club, and that they wanted to keep the Colombian full-back, while Romain Esse was likely to leave before the end of the window.
“I have to be honest, I think he [Esse] will leave because we will not have too much time to give to him, so it’s the best thing for him to find another solution.”
“I heard some noise, but he [Muñoz] is happy with us, and we are happy [for him] to stay.”
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