Crystal Palace enter the 2026-27 season after an extraordinary year that brought a third trophy in 12 months, but Oliver Glasner’s departure to Nottingham Forest has quickly changed the mood. New manager Pierre Sage must preserve the progress made under Glasner while handling Europa League commitments, squad uncertainty and the loss of defensive leader Maxence Lacroix; the Guardian’s writers predict a 16th-place finish.

Daichi Kamada has signed a one-year extension, leaving eight starters from last season’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City still at the club, although Daniel Muñoz, Adam Wharton and Ismaïla Sarr could yet leave. Palace’s spending of about £80m on Jørgen Strand Larsen and Brennan Johnson has constrained their summer budget, while a £150m Selhurst Park stand redevelopment is due to raise capacity to 34,000 by 2028 or 2029 amid reported investor uncertainty.