It has been quite the summer of change at Selhurst Park as we dealt with the distractions offered by Oliver Glasner’s decision to seek pastures new, and then a few player rumblings that we could definitely have done without. Inevitably this has meant that new gaffer Pierre Sage certainly has not had the start to the 2026/27 Premier League campaign that he would have liked.
Eyes on the New Year Already?
The 47 year old former Lyon and Lens manager has begun his debut season in the English top flight with back to back defeats to Everton and Manchester City, but frustrations aside, every Crystal Palace fan knows that we are not going to see what he is able to really do until the summer transfer window shuts and those distractions are put on the backburner until at least the New Year and next January.
Having lost Maxence Lacroix and Brennan Johnson already this window our Premier League match odds have taken a hit, but there are a number of new faces attempting to bed in right now and then we will be more on an even keel. With continuing speculation rumour mill claims on departures, incoming links also continue and we are said to have made a late attempt to hijack Sunderland’s move for Lyon winger Malick Fofana.
The Wait Goes On
The 21 year old has already agreed to join the Black Cats in a deal worth just under £30 million, but we have now made a counter proposal to Sage’s former club – believed to be worth an initial £25.6 million up front, with £4.3 million following in add ons. The player was due in England today for his medical in the north east, but now we wait to find out if he stayed in London and is more entertained by our offer.
With it said that the five capped Belgian international was particularly enticed by their ability to offer European football this season, and their first for 51 years, we have also qualified for the Europa League this season following our Europa Conference League adventure in 2025/26.
For those fans who know little about him, it is worth remembering that Arsenal and Mikel Arteta were also in for the player much earlier in the window but they were unable to agree a fee with Lyon for the transfer to progress, so they turned their own attentions elsewhere.
Chelsea Again Pushing Against The Tide
If we do get traction on this deal and steal ahead of Sunderland in the chase for his signature, he is unlikely to be the only transfer we complete before the deadline slams shut, as it is also being reported that our chase for highly rated Atalanta defender, Honest Ahanor, is now complete. It is also a very highly complicated loan deal that sees Stamford Bridge outfit Chelsea again pushing the boundaries of what the rules and regulations actually say – and we have joined them in it.
The 18 year old talent and two capped Italian international, signed for Serie A side Atalanta from Genoa for a reported 20 million deal in 2025 and he has performed well in the league since, even gaining Champions league experience. Chelsea have officially signed him on a pre-everything deal for the summer of 2027, and Atalanta have loaned him to us for the season in the meantime. He is predominantly a left back.
Two clubs announcing a single player in one day at basically the same time has made my head hurt and it is perfectly legal.
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