Will Palace cut ties with Mateta before transfer deadline?published at 15:45 BST
15:45 BST
Sami Mokbel Senior football correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Despite his efforts to prove otherwise, Jean-Philippe Mateta still has 10 months left on his contract.
That is significant for a number of reasons.
It means if Crystal Palace are to recoup any money in transfer fees for the striker before he is eligible to sign a Bosman pre-contract with an overseas club in January, then this window provides their last opportunity to do so.
That fact will not be lost on those at Selhurst Park and there is a view from some at the club that they should look to sever ties in the coming days.
But with Mateta less than 12 months away from a free transfer, which would most probably be more financially lucrative for him than leaving for a fee this month, it would be understandable if the 29-year-old was not rushing out of the exit door.
Palace have attempted to renew Mateta's contract over the past the 12 months but to no avail.
And while the option of an extension cannot be completely discounted, it seems inconceivable that Mateta would perform a U-turn now given the lengths he has gone to to try to prove his current one is invalid.
Palace are likely to, at the very least, listen to offers for Mateta, who - by his actions - has indicated he views his future away from Selhurst Park.
Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace - the fans' verdict published at 12:44 BST
12:44 BST
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Crystal Palace.
Here are some of your comments:
Everton fans
Thomas: Hard to have any complaints, we scored two and on another day could have scored more. Solid performances across the board but I'd like to see us recruit a proper right back, then my optimism will be in full swing.
William: A nervous start but our first win which will boost our team and they look like they believe in getting the result in their new home. Onwards and upwards after a great result.
Chris: Things beginning to look ever so slightly positive. When everyone's fit the midfield options are there.
Dusty: A few lucky moments with Palace hitting the woodwork, but overall a solid performance. I have faith in Moyes and feel we can give most teams a game. A good signing or two could really boost an already great start to the season.
Harry: Great to be back and especially getting three points. Palace were unlucky not to go ahead and there were lessons to be learned for our defence! Barry will get a lot of confidence from scoring and Armstrong will get better as the season develops. All we need now is a new manager to inspire them.
Crystal Palace fans
Steve: An inability to put the ball in the back of the net continues. Palace cannot just depend upon one man - Sarr! The midfield has to chip in on a regular basis. Palace should have been two or three up in the first half.
Bob: Welcome to the Premier League Pierre Sage. It will be an uphill struggle right from the start as uncertainty around our squad continues. Sarr could also be leaving us and there's a legal battle going on about Mateta's contract. I really wish that the transfer window closes before the start of the season. As it is now there's even more chance of losing key players. At least there was a little consolation today.
Freddie: The unlucky streak at Everton continues. Another promising start, only to be punished for not taking our chances. It was encouraging to see a glimpse of what life after Glasner could look like under Sage, with some positive, attacking football. Nothing to worry about just yet, we hope!
Will: Played some nice stuff in the first half but I'm not surprised at the result in the end. With Hull and Ipswich already looking lively, and Sarr looking for a move, I have a feeling we're in for a long season.
The 29-year-old has become a cult hero at the Eagles because of his trademark celebration where he kicks the corner flag to shouts of "boom" from supporters, while the striker also scored the winning goal in the final as Palace won the Conference League last season.
It has not always been smooth sailing for Mateta, though.
The forward had a slow start to his Palace career but his trajectory was transformed under the guidance of former boss Oliver Glasner.
Mateta became one of the most reliable strikers in the Premier League and scored 46 goals in 109 games under the Austrian.
That form led to interest in Mateta across Europe, and the contract stand-off that has the club and the striker in the current situation.
Mateta has always been highly ambitious and made clear his desire to play for clubs at the elite level of the game, even during times early on in his Palace career when his form made it seem unlikely.
Alongside his aim to represent top clubs across Europe, Mateta has chased a place in the France national team and he achieved that goal in October last year before securing a place in the final 26-man squad for the World Cup.
When it seemed like Mateta would leave the club in January, Palace moved to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen as a replacement for a deal worth up to £48m.
The Norway striker made his debut for Crystal Palace in a win over rivals Brighton last season and fans repeatedly chanted his name in a show of support as Mateta's time at the club looked to be over.
However, Mateta failed his AC Milan medical and remained at the club, being ruled out for about two months with the issue.
He was booed by some sections of fans when he returned in the last-16 tie against AEK Larnaca in March before he turned around the fan feeling with a goal in the final of the Conference League, and he ended the season with 16 goals.
Mateta has been a key part of the most successful time in Palace's history, but the current contract stand-off threatens to leave a stain on his time at Selhurst Park.
Problems pile up for Crystal Palacepublished at 07:34 BST
07:34 BST
Sami Mokbel Senior football correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
It was not the best opening game of the season for Crystal Palace.
Ismaila Sarr was not included in the matchday squad with new manager Pierre Sage revealing he has been struggling with an injury.
Sources have told BBC Sport Sarr did not train for two days leading into the encounter with Everton, complaining of a groin issue, amid interest from Turkish side Galatasaray.
Palace do not want to sell their star forward, who scored 21 goals last season as the Eagles won the Community Shield and the Conference League.
One source has said the interest from Galatasaray is concrete but only a bid well above market value would even be considered by Palace.
Meanwhile, defender Chadi Riad was stretchered off with a serious knee injury in the 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park.
Riad has been affected by knee injuries since joining Palace in 2024 - suffering an issue in his second game for the club. Back-to-back knee injuries meant he was absent from the squad for more than 400 days.
Wantaway players, an opening day defeat and a serious-looking knee injury. The season could not have got off to a worse start for Pierre Sage.
'It could be a tricky debut season for Sage'published at 12:22 BST 23 August
12:22 BST 23 August
Sarah Mulkerrins Final Score reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Pierre Sage, welcome to the Premier League and the fine margins that can swing a game.
Looking down at the French football manager in the second half, he was rubbing his chin with his hand after making a couple of substitutions to try to rescue something from a game that started so brightly for Crystal Palace.
He's the new man in charge, but he has an old problem to solve. How to get his team to finish off the many chances they create. They were on top early on. Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eddie Nketiah and Daniel Munoz all had more than decent chances that could have easily found the net. But once Everton exerted control then the chances disappeared.
The second half saw Palace offer very little threat and Sage said "we gave up a little". They were missing the quality of their top scorer last season, Ismaila Sarr, who didn't travel amid the links with a move to Galatasaray. With the loss of Maxence Lacroix in defence, it could be a tricky debut season for Sage if more signings don't arrive before the deadline.
Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace: What Sage and Richards saidpublished at 17:55 BST 22 August
17:55 BST 22 August
Media caption,
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think our first half should have put us ahead, but we didn't score and then made mistakes. We have to take positives and convert into very good things.
"Sometimes you deserve but don't score. What we have to keep from the first half is how we play, but we did make easy mistakes.
"We play with the ball and can lose it under pressure, but today we lost it when not under pressure. That's something we have to cancel.
"In the second half we were with less energy. I made the substitutions because I thought we could play more dynamic, but it didn't happen. We gave up a little bit. We have to understand when it's 2-0 the game is not over."
On Chadi Riad injury: "At the moment I don't know, I hope it will be better than we think. We await the medical tests."
Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "This is a tough place to play, regardless of the stage of the season. First game of the season you can't leave chances on the table. They carried momentum in to the second half and it was an uphill battle from there."
How is the team different under Pierre Sage than under Oliver Glasner?: "Different tactics, same formation but a different way of playing. Pre-season we saw a lot of different things, new players coming in. Today was a good line in the sand regardless of the result."
What are Palace's aims this season?: "Improving on everything, in the league [last season] we dropped a bit lower than we wanted to. It would be great to win some silverware. We've got a taste for it, so it would be great to win some three years in a row."
Did you know?
Crystal Palace have lost seven of their last 10 Premier League games against Everton (D3), their joint-most defeats against any side in the competition since 2021-22 (also 7 against Arsenal & Chelsea).
Crystal Palace recorded an expected goals tally of 2.04, their highest in a Premier League game without scoring since December 2018 against Cardiff (2.1).
Analysis: Does defeat foreshadow struggles this season?published at 17:27 BST 22 August
17:27 BST 22 August
Keifer MacDonald BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
When the Crystal Palace players trudged off the pitch, Pierre Sage cut a deflated figure.
Saturday afternoon had provided the Frenchman with a brutal introduction to life as a Premier League manager and to the fine margins that can decide games.
On another day, perhaps one where Ismaila Sarr was available for selection, it might have been Palace who were dancing and celebrating their way back to the dressing room.
But for a number of reasons, particularly the width of the post, it was not to be for Palace or for Sage.
For all the success Palace have enjoyed over the last 12 months, winning three trophies, including the FA Cup, even the most optimistic of supporters would have been prepared for a period of transition following the exit of Oliver Glasner.
Add to that the departure of defender Maxence Lacroix and the possibility of Sarr leaving before the transfer window closes, and Palace will do well to replicate the success they enjoyed in 2025 and 2026.
Sarr not in Palace squad amid Galatasaray interestpublished at 15:42 BST 22 August
15:42 BST 22 August
Alex Howell and Sami Mokbel Football reporter and Senior football correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Ismaila Sarr is not in the Crystal Palace squad for the match against Everton after the forward complained of a groin issue amid interest from Turkish side Galatasaray.
Sources have told BBC Sport that Sarr has not trained for the last two days.
Crystal Palace do not want to sell their star forward who scored 21 goals in all competitions last season as the Eagles won the Community Shield and the Conference League.
Before Palace's Premier League opener, Pierre Sage said: "Two days ago, I said he will play. And yesterday, we make a medical point with the doctor of the club, the player and me.
"We have chosen that he cannot play because for the moment he's not really 100 per cent. That's why we didn't want to take a risk."
One source has said that the interest from Galatasaray is concrete but the Eagles do not want to sell Sarr and only a bid well above market value would even be considered.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Ipswich v Sunderland" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Tottenham match", for example.
Sutton's predictions: Everton v Crystal Palacepublished at 11:05 BST 22 August
11:05 BST 22 August
After the success Oliver Glasner had at Crystal Palace, new boss Pierre Sage has got some big shoes to fill.
Still, Palace have got some serious firepower and plenty of goals in their team, so I think they will be fine this season.
Goals are a bigger problem for Everton and again the key to their campaign probably rests on what manager David Moyes can get out of strikers Thierno Barry and Beto.
But I am sure Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will chip in too because he is a wonderful footballer and, while I do see Palace scoring, I fancy Everton to edge this.
Everton v Crystal Palace: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:21 BST 21 August
19:21 BST 21 August
Matthew Hobbs BBC Sport journalist
An Everton side who competed for the European places for much of last season begin this campaign against a Crystal Palace team playing their first Premier League game under manager Pierre Sage.
BBC Sport examines some of the key themes going into their meeting at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.
Everton begin the new season with perhaps two main ambitions: a challenge for the European places that lasts until the end of the campaign and better form at home.
In 2025-26, the Toffees were in contention for Champions League football before failing to win any of their final seven matches.
Those fixtures included a last-gasp home defeat by rivals Liverpool and a chastening home loss to Sunderland - disappointing results indicative of wider struggles in their first campaign at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton's points-per-game tally of 1.2 at home last season was the lowest by any team to start life in a new stadium in the Premier League in the competition's history.
The need for a win in Everton's opening fixture of the new campaign is pressing for two additional reasons.
First, the Blues' past four opening matches of a Premier League season amount to a total of zero goals and zero points.
Secondly, they are at risking of failing to win in eight successive league outings for the first time in either of David Moyes' two reigns with the club.
Moyes broke his summer-long silence earlier this week to declare that Everton "need to do more" in the transfer market before it closes at the end of this month.
The Toffees have officially signed five players, although midfielder Merlin Rohl and winger Tyrique George were on loan at the club last season, while the departures of Seamus Coleman and Idrissa Gueye have deprived Everton of more than 600 Premier League appearances' worth of experience.
One piece of business done so far was a swap with Saturday's visitors, with wingers Brennan Johnson moving to Merseyside and Dwight McNeil heading to south London.
It means that both players could make their debuts against their former club in a match between two sides who prefer to play without the ball.
Excluding the relegated teams, Everton ranked lowest (43.5%) and the Eagles third lowest (45.5%) for average possession last season, meaning a cagey contest could be expected.
Palace will be playing their first Premier League game with Sage at the helm following the departure of Oliver Glasner.
While the former Lens boss has big shoes to fill following Palace's triumphs in the FA Cup and Conference League under Glasner over the past two seasons, immediate priorities may involve rectifying a recurrent weakness.
Palace conceded 20 set-piece goals (excluding penalties) in the Premier League in 2025-26 – the joint most of any team – while conceding from set-pieces accounted for 39% of all goals that Palace let in last season, the highest ratio of any side.
Sage is attempting to become just the third Palace manager to win his opening game in the Premier League, but his tenure begins with something of a bogey fixture.
The Eagles have won just one of the last 23 Premier League meetings with Everton (D10, L12), a 3-1 home victory in December 2021. They have not won away from home against the Toffees in more than a decade.
Disasi closes in on Palace loanpublished at 11:48 BST 21 August
11:48 BST 21 August
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea defender Axel Disasi has been given permission to visit Crystal Palace for a medical as talks progress over a season-long loan move.
Palace have emerged as the leading contenders to sign the France centre-back, 28, with all parties open to completing a deal.
Negotiations are continuing over the size of the loan fee.
For Palace, Disasi would become the club's seventh signing of the summer under new manager Pierre Sage as he reshapes the squad.
Sage begins his reign with a trip to Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are aiming to reduce their squad size from about 40 players to closer to 25 during the final 10 days of the transfer window.
Alongside Disasi, Omari Kellyman and Deivid Washington are nearing moves to partner club Strasbourg, while Benoit Badiashile has had a medical with Napoli.
Disasi spent last season on loan at West Ham, who were interested in making the deal permanent. However, an agreement could not be reached after the Hammers were relegated to the Championship.
Crystal Palace's numbers last seasonpublished at 09:12 BST 21 August
09:12 BST 21 August
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
Image source, Getty Images
Being a Crystal Palace fan last season must have been a frustrating experience (in the league at least) as their team missed so many chances, resulting in only the bottom two sides Wolves and Burnley scoring fewer than their 41 goals.
While they only ranked 13th for shots, Brentford were the only side to create better chances on average which gave Palace the eighth-highest expected goals figure at 58.4.
As a result, Crystal Palace scored an incredible 17 goals fewer than they should have given the number and quality of chances they had.
That doesn't just make them the worst finishers in the Premier League last season, but the worst out of all 96 teams in Europe's top five leagues.
Given that they were pretty solid at the back, if Palace had simply taken their chances at the rate of an average Premier League side, they would have been likely to finish in the top half rather than in 15th place.
Gossip: Disasi close to loan movepublished at 08:16 BST 21 August
08:16 BST 21 August
France defender Axel Disasi, 28, is closing in on a loan move from Chelsea to Crystal Palace. (Sun), external
Manchester City have enquired about the availability of England midfielder Adam Wharton but their approach has been rebuffed by Crystal Palace. (Sun), external
Why was the Premier League so competitive in 2025-26?published at 08:14 BST 21 August
08:14 BST 21 August
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
Image source, Getty Images
In the Premier League last season, 13 of the 20 teams finished with between 40 and 60 points - the most in an English top-flight campaign since 2003-04 (also 13).
Was the Premier League so competitive in 2025-26 because the quality of the 'lesser' teams got better or the top teams got worse? It is hard to know for sure.
Given how savvy clubs like Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth are, the vast amounts of money that enable even bottom-half sides to sign the best talent from abroad and the Premier League's current dominance of the Europa League and Conference League, it would seem to be the former.
However, the fact that promoted play-off winners Sunderland were able to finish above 13 teams in their first season back suggests the league was maybe not as strong as we think.
What we do know is that whether because they got worse or their opponents got better, four of the sides that finished in the top seven in 2024-25 - champions Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest - took 79 points fewer between them last season.
While Forest's decline was perhaps expected given their incredible seventh-place finish in 2024-25 and their journey to the Europa League semi-finals last season, the others were far more surprising.
Sunderland and Leeds smashed the recent run of promoted sides struggling to compete by taking 64 more points than the teams they replaced in the top flight.
As a result, this season will be a bit of an upside-down one in that Bournemouth, Brighton and Sunderland have European campaigns to navigate while Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle do not.
Will we therefore see a bounce-back to the more 'traditional' order in 2026-27 or are we truly entering a new, fiercely-competitive era of the Premier League?
Sage on Henderson injury, transfer targets and Wharton's futurepublished at 14:36 BST 20 August
14:36 BST 20 August
Millie Sian BBC Sport journalist
Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League opener against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Sage said he was "very happy to begin" as the club can connect with fans again but stressed the Eagles need to "bring the best version" of themselves to "compete" against Everton.
A "late decision" will be made on captain Dean Henderson's fitness. The goalkeeper "suffered a little twist of the ankle" against Freiburg but it is hoped he will be available.
Sage says "everybody could play" at Hill Dickinson Stadium with no major injuries to report. He said: "I will have to make some choices, but this is the nature of the job. It is a good problem for me because when I have choices, I can anticipate a lot of scenarios and I have lots of options."
On how the club's new signings are settling in: "They are discovering how we want to play at the moment and they are in a good position in that aspect. We are happy they are here so we can integrate them into the team now and make them Crystal Palace players."
Sage expects "maybe one or two" more incomings before the summer transfer window closes.
However, he explained: "We don't want to take a player who isn't for us, that's why it isn't a case of sorting it within one or two days. We have to work with these guys for the rest of the season, so sometimes it is better to wait than to take the first player that comes along."
Crystal Palace will need a centre-back "first and foremost" after Maxence Lacroix's departure. He wants a player who has "a lot of experience in the Premier League" and is a "leader".
When asked if that player could be Axel Disasi, who is expected to leave Chelsea this summer and has been linked with the Eagles, he replied: "It is difficult for me to speak about a player of another club. I hear the same noise as you [the media]."
Sage did not confirm whether Manchester City have enquired about Adam Wharton's availability. Instead, he offered: "He is capable of playing at any big club, whether that is here or anywhere in Europe, but I believe one more year with us and our new dynamic will be good for him."
He added: "We need him, that's why I think he will stay with us."
Lerma agrees new contractpublished at 10:49 BST 20 August
10:49 BST 20 August
Alex Howell and Sami Mokbel BBC Sport
Image source, Getty Images
Jefferson Lerma has agreed a new two-year contract with Crystal Palace.
Lerma, who joined the club in 2023, was entering the last year of his contract but has now agreed to an extension which will keep him at the club until 2028.
The 31-year-old has made 121 appearances in all competitions since he arrived at Selhurst Park following the expiration of his deal at Bournemouth.
The Colombian international has been part of the most successful period at the club and played an important role in the teams that won the FA Cup in 2025 and the Community Shield and Conference League last season.
He will provide vital experience to a Palace side who have lost leaders Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi while Lerma is also able to play both in midfield and defence and will give flexibility to new manager Pierre Sage.
Lerma has made 70 appearances for Colombia and started all five of their games at the World Cup before their exit in the Round of 16.
Where will Crystal Palace finish?published at 08:22 BST 20 August
08:22 BST 20 August
Last season: 15th.
This season: 11th.
Maxence Lacroix is a big loss in central defence, while the manager who inspired their FA Cup and Conference League wins, Oliver Glasner, has also gone.
In his place comes the highly regarded Pierre Sage, whose performance at Lens - where he became Ligue 1's manager of the year - was good enough to attract attention from Liverpool.
This is still a squad with class in all areas, from goalkeeper Dean Henderson through to Adam Wharton in midfield and Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr in attack.
If they can fight off any late advances for their top players, a good season lies in store - and, perhaps, another cup challenge.
More points for bottom-half sides but bottom two cut adrift in 2025-26published at 08:19 BST 20 August
08:19 BST 20 August
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
Image source, Getty Images
Teams in the bottom half of the Premier League in 2025-26 finished with more points than they had in years, meaning that judging them simply by their position in the table is perhaps a little harsh.
Everton may have been underwhelmed with their 13th-place finish but it was the most points a team in that position had finished with since the Toffees themselves in 1999-2000.
The points of the four places below them were all the highest they have been in the Premier League for 23 years and West Ham can consider themselves unlucky to have gone down with the highest points total for an 18th-placed side since 2010-11.
However, competition has come at a cost.
One place where the Premier League has become less competitive - because it has become more fiercely-contested overall - is at the very bottom.
While it is almost expected for one side to be cut adrift long before the end of the season, nowadays two sides are getting left behind.
The average points tally of the second-bottom side in a 38-game season is 31, meaning teams that finish there have usually competed in a relegation battle for most of the season before ultimately falling short.
After the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams in 1995-96, only two 19th-placed sides failed to reach 30 points in the first 21 seasons. But in the past decade, seven of the 10 sides to finish in that position have failed to do so.
In the past two seasons, promoted sides Ipswich and Burnley have both finished there with just 22 points - the fewest ever taken by a second-bottom side.
Relegation battles are now mostly a fight to see who takes the final spot in the bottom three, with the other two accounted for long before the final day - often by promoted sides.
But inspired by the survival of Sunderland and Leeds, promoted trio Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City will all be hoping they have what it takes to match the competitiveness of the Premier League this season.
Image source, Getty Images
