Crystal Palace’s Pierre Sage rejects talk he is unhappy with summer signings | OneFootball

Pierre Sage has dismissed suggestions he is unhappy with Crystal Palace’s summer business after a window that brought 11 signings, four on deadline day.

According to NY Times, he spoke before Saturday’s game against Fulham and said “the club did a good job” overall.

Palace sold first-team regulars Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz, and failed to land Lyon winger Malick Fofana, with whom Sage previously worked, as he chose Sunderland.

Sage said he prefers early deals and that timings influenced their start, defeats by Manchester City and Everton, while accepting why some arrivals were late.

He outlined targeted profiles, with Honest Ahanor covering the left-sided centre-back role, Quinten Timber adding legs as a box-to-box option, and Dario Osorio bringing pace and long-range shooting.

He noted Osorio scores that type of goal and that those qualities could subtly change their approach. Ben Chilwell, he added, knows the club and city, offers experience, and can play wing-back or centre-back.

Sage expressed disappointment at missing Fofana but said the player chose his path and he wished him well. He must also handle Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr after blocked moves, with Sarr recovering from a groin problem and expected back in training next week.

He said Mateta is not disruptive, and that Sarr needs time to digest recent events. He rejected agent Diomansy Kamara’s view the club should yield to a player’s wishes, saying Palace people are respectful and many dream of playing for a club like this.

Source: NY Times

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”