Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage says he needs midfielder Adam Wharton to stay for ‘one more year’ and develop into a top Premier League midfielder.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a variety of moves away from Selhurst Park this summer, most recently to Manchester City.

The England international has impressed since making the move to London from Blackburn in 2024 with his passing and pressing and Sage expects him to stay put for the forthcoming season.

Palace play their Premier League opener against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.

Sage said: “He [Wharton] 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.

“We need him, that’s why I think he will stay with us.”

Palace have sold defender Maxence Lacroix this summer, and swapped Brennan Johnson for Dwight McNeil with Everton.

Sage said Palace need a centre-back “first and foremost” after Lacroix’s departure and 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, Sage replied: “It is difficult for me to speak about a player of another club. I hear the same noise as you [the media].”