Crystal Palace

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Crystal Palace manager, Pierre Sage, spoke to Palace TV about the culture around the team and Daichi Kamada's new deal.

Sage has expressed his desire to finish higher in the Premier League next season.

Palace's 15th-place finish last term was their worst since 2015-16, though focus turned to success in Europe late in the campaign.

He hopes fostering a positive culture in South London will help and explained: "The team building is the most important thing because we spend a lot of time together. We have a big objective to attempt.

"That's why we need to do it together. The togetherness is the most important thing. We do it in a natural way during this period, but during the season we will have some times together to be strong."

So far this summer, Sage has seen key defender Maxence Lacroix leave the club for Chelsea and it appears the Eagles will sign free agent Takehiro Tomiyasu, 27, to offer some defensive cover.

The boost Kamada's deal offered therefore was key and Sage said: "I'm really happy he has stayed with us because he had the choice to leave. The pull of the club is really important for him and the Premier League is important to him.

"During his first season he showed what he was able to do. I knew that, but now he will have to show that in the games. He will play the first minutes with the team this evening, so that's really important for us."

Palace play Fulham in a friendly on Friday - 18:00 BST.

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Crystal Palace manager, Pierre Sage, sat down with Palace TV to discuss his goals for this season and the challenge of European football.

The Frenchman took over at the Eagles this summer following the departure of Oliver Glasner, and will be leading the team into the Europa League after the qualified through their Conference League win.

"We want to do better in the Premier League because it's the main objective for the club," Sage said.

"For the moment, the club has 100% success in the Europe. This year, we will play in the Europa League, we have to make a good journey in this competition too.

"We want to be good in the two local cups too because a club like us is able to win something, we have proof in the past.

"These games are different, the atmosphere is different. All the players, all the fans are waiting especially for these games because it's difficult to explain that, because we have to live that.

"We have to control how to play against each opponent. Sometimes we lose but we give our best to show what we can do."

The 2026-27 Premier League season has not yet kicked off, but it has already made history.

Nine clubs are set to begin the campaign with a new permanent manager - the highest number ever for the top flight's opening weekend.

The scale of turnover has dramatically reshaped the Premier League's managerial landscape.

The upheaval did not begin this summer. The 2025-26 Premier League season featured 11 managerial changes, with Forest among the clubs to make multiple appointments during the campaign.

The average tenure of a top-flight boss now stands at about 20 months, illustrating just how fleeting life in one of football's most demanding jobs can now be.

Recent history also suggests changing manager offers no guarantees. During the 2025-26 season, several clubs that switched coaches continued to struggle. Forest employed three managers during the campaign, Tottenham changed head coach twice, while Chelsea also altered direction before the season ended.

Others, however, did enjoy an immediate uplift. Michael Carrick averaged 2.6 points per game across his first five matches as Manchester United boss, while Liam Rosenior collected the same return after taking charge of Chelsea. Rosenior's tenure ultimately proved short-lived, though, with the Blues winning just one of his final eight Premier League matches before he was dismissed.

• Read more on a summer of change

Research discussed in the Financial Times,, external external, drawing on findings from Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski, argues that player quality and spending remain stronger predictors of results than managerial changes alone.

Sports consultancy Twenty First Group says coaches often succeed or fail according to the environment they inherit as much as their own abilities.

Since the Premier League began in 1992, only six managers have won the title in their first season in charge of their club.

Mourinho became the first to achieve the feat with Chelsea in 2004-05, before Carlo Ancelotti repeated it with the same club in 2009-10.

Manuel Pellegrini guided Manchester City to the title in his debut campaign in 2013-14, Claudio Ranieri masterminded Leicester City's remarkable triumph in 2015-16, Conte won the league in his first season at Chelsea in 2016-17, and most recently Slot led Liverpool to the championship in his maiden campaign in 2025-26.

With almost half the division beginning the campaign under new leadership, the Premier League enters one of its most unpredictable seasons in recent memory.

Katharine Sharpe and Simon Casson
BBC Sport senior journalists

The 2025-26 Premier League and Championship seasons included the introduction of squad-cost ratio rules on a shadow basis, testing to see how a spending cap for squad costs set at a percentage of a club's total revenues might work.

These SCR regulations have now been permanently implemented for the 2026-27 season, replacing previous profit and sustainability rules (PSR).

Uefa has a 70% SCR cap for European competitions, so Premier League clubs who qualified for Europe fall in line with this limit.

Clubs who did not qualify for Europe, and so are only taking part in domestic competitions, are capped at 85% of their total revenue.

However, clubs can spend above the 85% limit by using a multi-year rolling allowance of 30%. This allows them to invest ahead of revenue and variance or sporting underperformance.

Every club will start this coming season on 85% + 30% allowance, so effectively 115%.

If a club spends 105% on their squad in 2026-27, it means they have used 20% of their allowance, and for 2027-28 their maximum spend before potential sporting sanction is 95%.

If a club spend less than 85%, they can increase the allowance again to the maximum of 30%.

Spending above 85% but under the allowance results in a financial penalty, whereas going over both the 85% and the allowance will land the club a fixed six-point deduction which increases by one point for every £6.5m spent over the 115%.

'Anchoring' was also trialled in 2025-26, which meant any club's spending could not exceed a multiple of income earned by the bottom-placed club - however this was rejected at a vote of Premier League clubs.

SCR was approved by a vote of 14 clubs to six, and was introduced alongside sustainability and systemic resilience (SSR) regulations.

SSR involves three tests that are applied throughout the season:

Working capital test - assesses short-term cash resources

Liquidity test - assesses medium-term liquidity and resilience

Positive equity test -assesses long-term financial health

The aim of the SCR and SSR regulations is to stop the richest owners providing endless funds to their clubs to sign new players, as any money injected this way does not count as seasonal revenue.

They will also aim to prevent clubs from overspending and accruing unmanageable losses.

Read more about the rules here

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We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

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Sami Mokbel, Senior football correspondent, and Nizaar Kinsella, Football reporter

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Crystal Palace are set to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu on a free transfer following a successful trial and are considering a move for winger Solly March.

BBC Sport reported last week that Palace and defender Tomiyasu were in talks over a permanent contract that would see the Japan international return to the Premier League.

And Palace are understood to be pressing ahead with Tomiyasu's signing ahead of the new season.

A broad agreement on terms had been in place, with Palace head coach Pierre Sage tasked with deciding whether to sign the versatile 27-year-old defender.

The Eagles are also contemplating a move for March, who left Brighton at the end of last season.

March, 32, has been recommended to Palace with the potential deal discussed internally at Selhurst Park.

Sage is set to play with three central defenders next season and it is understood Tomiyasu is viewed as a potential option to play on the left side of the trio.

Tomiyasu's recent career has been plagued by knee issues and while Palace are convinced of the former Arsenal's man ability, the club want to be sure with regards to his fitness.

Upon leaving the Gunners by mutual consent last season, Tomiyasu joined Ajax where he made eight appearances for the Dutch side towards the end of the campaign before making three appearances – including two starts – for Japan at the World Cup.

Palace want to strengthen their defensive options this summer with first-choice central defender Maxence Lacroix having joined Chelsea.

Palace have an interest in a possible loan deal for Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong but as yet there are no indications that the Stamford Bridge club are prepared to sanction the 20-year-old's exit.

BBC Sport reported last week that Palace also hold a strong interest in Brest centre-back Raphael Le Guen.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Crystal Palace's successful Conference League campaign, which ended with the Eagles winning their first European trophy, provided an opportunity for young players to impress.

Joel Drakes-Thomas was one of those to shine as, aged 16 years and 192 days, he made his senior debut in the 2-2 draw with Finnish side KuPS, producing a player-of-the-match performance.

He played against Leeds two days after the KuPS match, becoming the youngest player to turn out for the club in the Premier League.

Drakes-Thomas, who can play as a right wing-back or on the wing, turned 17 in June and signed his first professional contract with the Eagles at the beginning of July after being with the club since the age of six.

He has already made four senior appearances and will be hoping for many more in 2026-27.

Read more on youngsters to watch at each Premier League club this season

Should a club build a new stadium or upgrade its current home in a bid to maintain some history? How significant is a new ground in terms of revenue generated? Will it move the needle?

BBC Sport has worked with football finance expert Kieran Maguire to consider the impact a new home has.

Take a look at your club's matchday revenue figures from 2024-25 below and get the full article here.

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Crystal Palace claimed a comfortable 3-1 victory over Saudi second-tier side Al-Ula to claim a fifth-place finish at the Como Cup.

Justin Devenny, who was playing as an attacking midfielder, got the Eagles off to a flying start with a precise finish at the near post in the opening minute of the match.

"We do that in training all the time," Devenny told Palace TV, external. "As soon as we win the ball back, we know we need to counter-attack quickly. We did it all throughout last season.

"I think it is a bit of a strength playing in different positions. I was here, there and everywhere at times last season, but I'm happy playing wherever I'm needed."

Then 20-year-old Rio Cardines picked out Eddie Nketiah for a close-range finish to double Palace's lead inside the opening 10 minutes.

Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem did manage to find the target for Al Ula in the 16th minute, but centre-back Jaydee Canvot poked home from a corner in the 57th minute to seal the win.

Chris Richards and Daichi Kamada were also handed their first pre-season minutes by new boss Pierre Sage, having returned from the World Cup.

"We played how we choose to play," Sage said. "It is kind of a success, but now we have to do that for the whole game.

"For me, it is important to see my team taking chances."

Next up for Crystal Palace is a behind closed doors friendly against Fulham on Friday, 7 August.

Crystal Palace's move for Augsburg's 24-year-old French defender Chrislain Matsima has stalled and the Eagles are looking at other targets. (Standard), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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As Nathaniel Clyne's Crystal Palace career comes to an end after joining the club aged 14-years-old, he sat down with club media, Palace TV, to review his career with the Eagles.

On his debut against Barnsley in 2008 in the Championship: "The kit was a bit big for me. I remember the boots as well. The boots weren't actually mine.

"They were Clint Hill's. He said to me: 'Where are your studs?' I said: 'I don't have any'. He offered me his boots, and that was the first time I wore those boots."

On his first senior goal for Palace against Reading: "The ball came out to me. I don't think anyone was closing me down. Let me have a cheeky shot from outside the box - I don't think I even hit it that well, but it sort of found the back of the net!"

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On avoiding relegation in the 2009-10 season on the final day against Sheffield Wednesday: "It was a massive game. Definitely an emotional game. Some tears as well and some relief that we got through and managed to stay in the division."

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On winning the FA Cup in 2025: "I would describe it as one of the best days in my life. Obviously, you play football to win, to win trophies and to win major competitions.

"For me to be able to help my team contribute to winning this cup again in front of all the fans, you could see how passionate they were in the crowd.

"A great achievement and a proud moment for me and the football club."

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Nathaniel Clyne has left Crystal Palace after the club confirmed his contract has expired.

Speaking to club media, Palace TV, Clyne said: "When I started at Crystal Palace we were in the Championship. Now the club is playing European football, having nights like we did in Leipzig.

"I'm just so happy that I've been a part of that, it's meant so much to me and my family."

Clyne rose through the Palace academy to earn his first senior debut in October 2008 against Barnsley in the Championship.

Since making his debut, the 25-year-old has represented the Eagles over 250 times in all competitions over the course of two stints at the south London club.

Although Clyne did not feature in the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League final victories, he was named on the bench for all three games under Oliver Glasner.

Clyne experienced an eight-year hiatus from Selhurst Park as he joined Southampton in 2012 and the full-back would then go on to represent Liverpool and Bournemouth before being brought back to Palace in October 2020.

"The last few seasons have given me some of the best days of my life," he added.

"I'm proud of these achievements, proud of myself and the football club."

Throughout Clyne's career he represented England 14 times.

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Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage believes his side "created opportunities offensively" but "lacked aggression" defensively on a night of mixed results at the Como Cup.

The Eagles played two 45-minute games in the tournament's group stage on Tuesday without finding a breakthrough.

They fell to a 3-0 defeat against Lens, as former striker Odsonne Edouard knocked two goals past Walter Benitez, before being held to a goalless draw by Famalicao and relying on Remi Matthews to save a penalty in the deciding shootout.

"In the first game, we played with our older players but it was difficult because Lens are a good team," Sage told Palace TV, external. "We had a lot of difficulty against them.

"I think we lacked aggression defensively and they scored their first goal because of this. We made a tactical mistake on the second goal, and after that it was difficult.

"But we did also have opportunities offensively and we have to keep that [as our positive]."

Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is currently on trial at Crystal Palace but in talks over a permanent contract, was named on the bench for both fixtures.

The 27-year-old is currently a free agent following the expiration of his contract at Eredivisie side Ajax.

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Video assistant referees should only be used to change "blatantly incorrect" decisions and clear missed incidents, say European refereeing officials.

Chief refereeing officers from all 55 European national football associations met last week with Uefa refereeing officials and a representative from the International Football Association Board (Ifab) to address recent changes to the game's laws.

Attendees said "lengthy, microscoping reviews" indicate VAR has gone beyond its original scope.

When VAR was added to the laws of the game in 2018 by football's rulemakers Ifab, its "philosophy" was "minimum interference - maximum benefit", with the intention of reducing "unfairness caused by clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents" relating to goals, penalties, direct red cards and mistaken identity.

Uefa said that at its recent meeting that refereeing bosses agreed a return to those original aims is needed.

"It was reiterated that, in accordance with protocol, VAR must only intervene in situations of 'clear and obvious' error, ie. when a referee decision is blatantly incorrect or when the referee has missed a clear incident," Uefa said in a statement.

"VAR is not meant to re-referee the game, it is an essential support to the referees, who must remain at the centre of all decision-making.

"Lengthy, microscoping reviews are often a symptom revealing that the decision on the field was not clearly and obviously incorrect, and should therefore be limited."

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We asked for your views on how Crystal Palace can continue to progress when key assets are swiped away.

The Eagles go into the new season off the back of a historic European success but despite such momentum look set to lose influential defender Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Boab: We've always been a selling club. We find them, give them first team football and then they move on to a bigger club. Sad to see them go but that's the way we manage to stay in business. We've already agreed terms for a youngster as a potential replacement so the circle continues.

David: Been a Palace fan all my life and now I'm 70. It's been the best period in the clubs history and I've loved it all. With success comes expectation fortunately. For a club our size selling top players is inevitable and we need to find new ones and have a clear transfer strategy. I'm not clear on ours! We have lost two centre-backs and as yet no new ones have come in. Waiting until the end of the window is not, in my opinion, a good strategy and seems more like retail shopping.

Chris: What other option do CPFC have? The nature of modern football is that realistically you'll only ever sign top players/prospects if they can see a pathway to the really big clubs. The key thing for Palace is to get a good two-to-three years out of these players and sell them at the right time for a solid profit.

Andrew: No, it's an excellent piece of business and fits exactly with Palace's business model. In addition to that they are making some very encouraging signings.

Steve: As a supporter, and follower, since 1958, I believe chairman, Steve Parish, has done a terrific job keeping Palace solvent after almost going out of business in 2010. The past year has been a thoroughly deserved reward with three excellent trophies. However, the time has come to move to the next level. Palace need to shed the image of a 'stepping stone' club. The new stand needs to be built. Players of genuine quality, who want to be at the club, added to the squad.

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Crystal Palace go into the new season off the back of a historic European success.

But despite such momentum, the Eagles look set to lose influential defender Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea.

It prompts questions as to how the club can continue to progress when key assets are swiped away.

So how are you feeling? Will things work out just fine? Is it a good deal? Or are you concerned this may hinder progress?

Get in touch with your views here

Crystal Palace have reached agreement on personal terms with Brest's 19-year-old French centre-back Raphael le Guen. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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English football is set to implement a trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season, BBC Sport can reveal.

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women's Super League have agreed on the measure, pending permission from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

Earlier this year, Ifab decided against changing the law and invited leagues to volunteer for trials.

Pro Ref, led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, has been in discussions with the leagues to determine how to tackle the issue. It settled on a team having to remove an outfield player from the field.

If a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, the coach will have 10 seconds to nominate another player to leave the pitch for one minute, telling the fourth official of their choice.

If no player has been selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field.

Read more on the trial