Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage expressed confidence Crystal Palace will retain Adam Wharton, while playing down reports of Wilfried Zaha returning to Selhurst Park, at his first press conference since taking charge of the Eagles.
The former Lens manager, who was brought in to succeed Oliver Glasner in June, also addressed Palace’s transfer objectives, highlighting the need to secure a replacement for central defender Maxence Lacroix following his recent move to Chelsea.
Manchester City are the latest side linked with a move for Wharton, and though Sage acknowledges the midfielder is capable of commanding a substantial fee, he insists the 22-year-old has not yet reached his full potential in south London.
Sage said: “I think now is not the moment to do that (sell Wharton). I think he is able to play in another club, in a big club, here or everywhere in Europe.
“But I think one year with us, with a new dynamic, will be good for him, and we need him. That’s why I think he will stay with us.”
However, Sage did not rule out the prospect of reviewing Wharton’s future next year.
City could make a move for Wharton at the end of a summer that has seen a number of midfielders depart the club. Bernardo Silva left at the end of last season before joining Real Madrid on a free transfer, while Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders have moved to Barcelona and Al Qadsiah, respectively, in the past week.
Enzo Maresca’s side have brought in Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, and have also been linked with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Moroccan star Ayyoub Bouaddi, who currently plays for Lille.
Regarding Zaha, who is currently utilising Palace’s facilities for private training, Sage said: “I know he is a legend here, but to be really honest, I don’t think he will stay with us.”
Zaha previously scored 90 goals in 458 appearances for Palace before leaving the club in 2023.
Meanwhile, Dean Henderson’s readiness to feature against Everton on Saturday will be determined on Friday after the Palace captain sustained an ankle tweak in a friendly against Freiburg.
