It has been another tough and disruptive summer at Selhurst Park, but in more recent years Crystal Palace fans have become used to this – but at least right now, we can welcome in new defensive signing Axel Disasi.
Fresh from some of the World Cup nonsense and the less controversial sponsored water breaks, fans headed into the new campaign safe in the knowledge that the Eagles would be pivoting from Oliver Glasner to Frenchman Pierre Sage, and then we had two transfer saga’s to deal with as our new 47 year old gaffer got his feet under the desk and prepared for his maiden Premier League season.
For those fans who use the best betting apps for their pre season predictions, they may seen some of these developments factored into their odds. 28 year old, 88 capped Senegal international attacker Ismaila Sarr’s future continues to be somewhat up in the air with the transfer window deadline day quickly approaching. The club line has always been he is not for sale, and that stated decision is yet to change despite Liverpool now announcing their intentions to sign him owing to their repeated failed efforts to land Brighton and Hove Albion talent Yankuba Minteh.
Holmesdale regulars will simply have to see what happens with this speculation rumour mill news, but hopefully our plans for the 2026/27 campaign will suffer no further disruptions on this particular front. The issue of the summer was of course the continuing saga surrounding Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The 29 year old seven capped French international has long wanted out of the club, and everyone is well, and widely, aware of that. After last season’s toys out of pram, he saw injury scupper the eventually arranged transfer to Italian Serie A side AC Milan but despite not thoroughly and completely burning his bridges with us, his efforts to have the final year of his contract declared null and void tell their own story.
Whilst those efforts have seemingly failed, and he featured in our season opener, it would be wise to sell him and save any future headlines and headaches.
With six signings already secured this window with the notable departures of Maxence Lacroix and Brennan Johnson, we should be hoping to spend the remainder of the time left in the summer window looking to replace Mateta so we are not left further short.
Whilst that work undoubtedly continues in the background, one of our key defensive targets in the shape of Chelsea’s centre half, Disasi, is now finally complete and he has been officially announced as a loan capture for the full remaining season.
Having made the switch to Stamford Bridge in 2023, whilst failing to really establish himself at the club with all of their recent changes and upheaval, the 28 year old has gained further experience whilst out on loan with both Aston Villa and West Ham United – taking his tally to 58 top flight appearances, to add to his five international caps for France.
Hopefully, he will prove to be a steady hand at the back as we look to stabilise before pushing forward as Sage no doubt wants.
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