Crystal Palace boss claims Jean-Philippe Mateta will STAY despite legal battle with the club... and denies reports Ismaila Sarr is refusing to train after approaches from Liverpool and Galatasaray

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage says he expects star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta to stay at the club after the transfer window closes - and maintains that Ismaila Sarr is not refusing to train.

Palace and Mateta have been embroiled in a legal dispute over the validity of the unilateral one-year extension in his contract, which Palace triggered last season.

The case was heard by a Premier League tribunal at the end of last season - Mateta’s camp later took it to FIFA, which ruled it was not within their jurisdiction.

Despite the lengthy proceedings, the matter was only played out in public for the first time on Saturday, but Sage has no concerns over Mateta’s commitment to Palace.

‘I speak with him every day and, in front of me, I have a guy that is funny, happy to be here,’ Sage said. ‘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. 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.

Jean Philippe Mateta's move to AC Milan fell through in January

'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. 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. 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.’

Sarr, meanwhile, has been linked with a move to Galatasaray and has not trained since the Turkish club had a bid north of £30million turned down.

The Senegal international was not in the Palace squad to face Everton last weekend, with Sage citing a groin injury. Reports in Turkey suggested he was refusing to train.

Daily Mail Sport reported on Wednesday that Liverpool have joined the list of suitors for Sarr before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline but a move is unlikely as it stands.

Palace have made clear that the attacker, who has three years left on his contract, is not for sale - though Sarr’s camp are keen to move him. A fair valuation, though, is thought to be £60million.

Speaking on Wednesday, Palace boss Sage insisted that Sarr’s injury has nothing to do with the speculation surrounding his future. However, he remains unavailable for Friday’s match against Manchester City.

‘For the moment, yeah,’ Sage said when asked whether Sarr will remain at Palace. ‘Because when you have three years on the contract, it is not easy to leave.’

Senegal's Ismaila Sarr has been the subject of interest from Liverpool and Galatasaray

‘Ismaila Sarr is in individual training because he is really in pain with his groin. 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. 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. 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.

‘All the rest is for the other people. 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. We just have to wait for that.

‘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.’