Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage expects striker Jean-Philippe Mateta to stay at the club after the transfer window closes despite an ongoing contract dispute.
Sage also maintained that attacker Ismaila Sarr is not refusing to train following interest from Liverpool and Galatasaray, attributing the player's absence to a groin injury.
Palace and Mateta have been embroiled in a legal battle over the validity of a unilateral one-year extension in his contract, which the club triggered last season.
The case was heard by a Premier League tribunal at the end of last season before Mateta's camp took the matter to FIFA, which ruled it was not within its jurisdiction. Although proceedings have been lengthy, the dispute only played out in public for the first time on Saturday.
Legal dispute over Jean-Philippe Mateta contract
Despite the legal proceedings, Sage insisted he has no concerns over Mateta's commitment to the team.
Speaking on Wednesday, Sage said: "I speak with him every day and, in front of me, I have a guy that is funny, happy to be here. He gives his best in every session. I didn’t see a player who has a problem with the club or with us, that’s why he played the last game as a starter."
"You imagine if we had a problem with him, he would not play as a starter," Sage added. "Now it is just a problem that will be resolved. It is maybe (the problem) with the man but not with the player, if you want."
Sage expressed confidence that the French forward will remain at Selhurst Park beyond the deadline.
"I think he (Mateta) will stay and, like I told you, he has the behaviour of someone who is happy to be here, who wants to be here and prepared to be here all season," Sage said. "That’s why I understand your question, but I have no doubt about that. He prefers football to his contract. When you love to play, you play."
"The guy is wonderful," Sage continued. "The player only trained for two weeks so he’s not perfect. If he was perfect, he would play every game and score 10 goals but that’s not the case for anybody."
Ismaila Sarr transfer interest and injury status
Meanwhile, Senegal international Ismaila Sarr has been linked with a move to Turkish club Galatasaray, who had a bid north of £30million turned down by Palace.
Reports in Turkey suggested Sarr was refusing to train after not featuring in the Palace squad against Everton last weekend. However, Sage dismissed those claims and confirmed Sarr has not trained with the group due to a groin injury.
Daily Mail Sport reported on Wednesday that Liverpool have joined the list of suitors for Sarr before next Tuesday's transfer deadline, though a move remains unlikely as it stands. Palace have made clear that the attacker, who has three years left on his contract, is not for sale, although Sarr's camp is keen to move him and a fair valuation is thought to be £60million.
Sage confirmed that Sarr will not be available for Friday's Premier League match against Manchester City.
Asked whether Sarr will remain at Palace, Sage said: "For the moment, yeah. Because when you have three years on the contract, it is not easy to leave."
"Ismaila Sarr is in individual training because he is really in pain with his groin," Sage explained. "But we prepare him, he needs time. I thought it would be quicker, but I am not a doctor. That is why I wait for him and we prepare for him to come back with us. No chance (he plays against City)."
"I understand that for everybody to have this kind of contact is difficult, because you hesitate a lot," Sage said. "But for the moment, he is with us. He is under contract."
"He is injured and maybe you can make a link between his injury and the situation," Sage added. "But for me, he is honest and I have no problem with that. I spoke with him this morning about that, yesterday about that, too. And we just want him on the pitch."
Impact of transfer window speculation
"All the rest is for the other people," Sage said. "Football is like this now, we know when it is the transfer window that there is a lot of noise, a lot of stuff for the player. Maybe some of them are not really comfortable with this situation and their agent, too, their family."
"That’s why it is not really a good period when you are inside in a club, but you know when it is finished we will only be concerned with our performances," he said. "We just have to wait for that."
Addressing the links to Anfield, Sage added: "It’s always difficult for a player when your name is associated with a club like Liverpool. For the moment, the most important thing is to understand the player is not able to play and is in treatment, and what happens with his potential future is really far from me."
Background on Crystal Palace and competition
Crystal Palace Football Club is a professional football team based in South London that competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. FIFA is the global governing body for association football, while Premier League tribunals resolve contractual and regulatory disputes between English top-flight clubs and players.
