Pierre Sage rubbished claims he's unhappy with Crystal Palace's summer signings ahead of their Premier League clash with Fulham. The manager addressed rumours in a press conference on Saturday, insisting the club had done a good job in the transfer window despite selling first-team regulars and missing key targets.
What did Pierre Sage say about the transfer rumours?
Pierre Sage directly confronted reports suggesting he was dissatisfied with the club's summer business. He stated: "I know the French guys said that (I was unhappy), the manager said in his press conference before Palace’s game against Fulham on Saturday." He added: "I don’t know why they said that … I will tell you it’s not the case, because in my last press (conference) I said, ‘we need time’."
How many players did Crystal Palace sign and sell this summer?
Crystal Palace completed 11 signings during the summer transfer window, with four arriving on deadline day. The club sold Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz, both first-team regulars, while failing to secure Malick Fofana from Lyon, who instead joined Sunderland. Pierre Sage had previously worked with Fofana at Lyon and was eager to bring him to Selhurst Park.
Who were the key summer signings and what roles were they brought in for?
Honest Ahanor was signed to cover the left-sided centre-back position, while Quinten Timber was acquired for his box-to-box energy and ability to contribute more legs in midfield. Dario Osorio was targeted for his pace and long-range shooting threat, and Ben Chilwell arrived for his experience and versatility in playing wing-back or centre-back.
What is Crystal Palace's current situation ahead of the Fulham match?
Crystal Palace have lost their opening two league games to Manchester City and Everton, leaving them 18th in the Premier League with 0 points from 2 games and a goal difference of -5 (1 scored, 6 conceded). They are six points behind league leaders Manchester City. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr remain unsettled despite denied transfer requests, with Sarr currently absent due to a groin injury but expected back in training next week. His representative, Diomansy Kamara, has been involved in discussions about his future.
Pierre Sage praised the environment at the club, saying: "the people here are respectful and just want the best for our club and our players" and added that "It's a dream for a lot of players to play for this kind of club." The Athletic reported these comments from the pre-Fulham press conference. Crystal Palace will face Fulham away on 2026-09-05, with Fulham currently 16th in the table.
For more details on upcoming matches, check the fixtures. To see the full list of players, visit the squad. For performance data, review the stats.
