Kporha signs new four-year deal with Palacepublished at 17:55 3 April
17:55 3 April
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Crystal Palace wing-back Caleb Kporha has signed a new four-year contract with the club.
BBC Sport reported last week that the 18-year-old was close to signing a new deal as he approached the end of his contract this summer.
Now an agreement has been reached and Palace have secured the future of one of their brightest prospects.
Kporha made his debut for Palace in November against Fulham in the Premier League before making his first start in the Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat by Arsenal.
The youngster also made his debut for England Under-19s in the last international break, playing the full game as they drew 0-0 with Turkey.
Q&A: What does the future hold?published at 16:26 3 April
16:26 3 April
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
In the final part of our special Q&A, BBC Sport football news reporter Alex Howell looks ahead to what the future could hold for Oliver Glasner and Crystal Palace.
Al asked: Will the board properly invest in the team and support Oliver Glasner? He is the best manager we have had in a long time.
Alex: The summer is likely to be busy because of the player situations mentioned in earlier questions. The board will need to buy players regardless as a result of the competitive nature of the Premier League, but the level of backing really depends on how Palace end the season.
If they qualify for Europe somehow, there is going to have to be a rethink on the model because the Eagles will need players who have competed at that level before and maybe need a bigger squad too.
Rob asked: Are Crystal Palace starting to build a sustainable model to become a regular top 10 club, with Glasner looking likely to sign a new contract and the quality of our player recruitment?
Alex: I would argue they are sustainable now just because of the length of time they have been in the Premier League. The jump to a regular top 10 side depends on an increased number of quality options. At times, because of injuries and other factors, those have been lacking.
Glasner is key to the future, I believe. He is an excellent manager and not going to be short of clubs interested in him for what he has done at Palace - all of which will be aware of the length of time left on his contract.
Q&A: Who might depart this summer?published at 12:11 3 April
12:11 3 April
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
In part two of a special three-part Q&A, BBC Sport football news reporter Alex Howell looks at the worries some have about the club losing prize assets in the summer.
Jim asked: Do you think winning the FA Cup or finishing in a European place would be enough to stop some of the players leaving?
Alex: It depends at what level of European football that is. The Conference League is probably not enough to stop a player like Marc Guehi leaving the club. Jean-Philippe Mateta wants to play European football to boost his chances of being in the France squad for the World Cup and, at the very least, he would want and need Europa League football for that.
Alan asked: Crystal Palace and Dougie Freedman, in particular, have done a fantastic job in building a squad of talented players like Dean Henderson, Daniel Munoz, Maxence Lacroix, Guehi, Adam Wharton, Eberechi Eze and Mateta - but how many players are they realistically expecting to lose this summer? Also, what impact will Dougie Freedman's departure have on finding the right quality replacements?
Alex: I agree the quality pool of players that Freedman and the recruitment team have put together should be applauded. I did a piece at the end of the summer transfer window about how Palace could be the surprise package of the season after the window and I was really doubting that prediction after the first 10 league games.
As I said above, Mateta wants to get into France's World Cup squad. Guehi is in his last year of his contract in the summer so it is the only chance for Palace to get money for him unless he signs a new deal. There are two very possible departures.
Eberechi Eze' release clause kicks in again this summer so that is another potential and the club were willing to negotiate underneath the number needed last year.
I think because of his injuries, Palace will get another year out of Wharton.
Smudge: There are lots of rumours and it is likely that we will have to sell at least one player in the summer. Given a free choice, would you sell Mateta, Eze, Guehi or Wharton? And who would you get in to replace them?
Alex: This is a tough question but I would sell Eze. That isn't because I don't think he is one of the best players in the team, but he is 27 in the summer and it is likely to be the last chance to get the kind of money Palace hope for and what it should cost to get a player of his quality.
Then you're looking at new number 10s. Rayan Cherki has been monitored for a while by the club, but it does not look like he is too bothered by the Premier League and he is also drawing attention from across Europe too.
Come back later on Thursday for the final part, in which Alex will explore what the future holds for Oliver Glasner and Palace.
Q&A: What's to come from the rest of the season?published at 10:04 3 April
10:04 3 April
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Throughout Thursday, we are doing a special Q&A with BBC Sport football news reporter Alex Howell. In this first of three parts, he assesses what might be still to come this season and looks back at their FA Cup quarter-final success.
Joe asked: Where will Crystal Palace end the season?
The road to Conference League via a strong finish and an unusually high number of Premier League clubs in Europe?
The road to glory via winning the FA Cup and then securing Europa League football?
The road to nowhere via an average finish after a tough run-in and no European football?
Alex: These are the questions most who follow Crystal Palace are asking themselves. The FA Cup is definitely the most realistic route as it is 'only' two games from lifting the trophy and European qualification. I think most supporters would pick that route as it would end the trophy drought at Selhurst Park.
The other thing to take into account is that Palace's run-in for the rest of the season is exceptionally hard. In their last 10 league games, the Eagles have to face eight of the current top 10.
Paul asked: Were you worried Crystal Palace might have been undercooked against Fulham on Saturday, after three weeks without a competitive game?
Alex: The result shows that the break benefited Palace. Manager Oliver Glasner said his team felt rusty because of the three-week gap, but the most important factor was having Jean-Philippe Mateta back. The forward, although lacking match sharpness, is so key to the direct way Palace play and the time between the games allowed him to recover enough to be involved.
Glasner makes a point of his teams being at peak fitness because of the intense style he demands, so having games in a row before the semi-final will help them to get to the level he wants.
Alan asked: Now that we are safe in the league, why don't we give some of the academy players some first-team appearances? There are already rumours that both Jesse Derry and Caleb Kporha are unhappy with their opportunities and are thought to be going elsewhere.
Alex: It is always a fine balance of managing a squad for a manager. Young players should be given opportunities, not only for their development but fans love it too. The difficult part is that you have squad players who will see a youngster coming through and taking their potential minutes in the team.
With Derry, I think it is a case of a contract not being agreed and there are other clubs interested in him. It is always difficult for young players with talent who have options. Kporha, on the other hand, is getting close to agreeing a new deal. He has been around the squad all season and I know he has impressed the first-team players in training so looks to have a bright future.
Come back later on Thursday for part two, where Alex will look at who might leave the club this summer.
Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:16 3 April
09:16 3 April
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Southampton's draw with Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Here are some of your comments:
Southampton fans
Chris: Best performance we have seen this season. Balanced hard-working team who marked every Palace player and gave them no space. Brilliant.
Stuart: I am gutted for the lads. They actually played their hearts out for the fans. They just couldn't hold on! We need eight more performances like this. Just leave it all out on the pitch. I don't care about 11 points or anything. Play with heart and guts and I will be a happy Saints fan. Let's get back to a proper league and rebuild!
Barry: Decent display. Might give the lads some much-needed confidence. Having a leader like Jack Stephens back in the line-up helped. Kyle Walker-Peters and Matheus Fernandes were superb and Flynn Downes played his best game for a long time.
Palace fans
Graham: An after-party hangover! A disappointing display and we struggled to get going after Jean-Philippe Mateta's early shot and we gave the Saints too much space.
Beefus: Palace looked complacent from the off as if they thought they had a right to win. Their passing was very sloppy and general play showed no urgency. I think the measure of a poor side is how easily they give away possession. On this display, the Eagles looked like the relegation candidates.
John: Crystal Palace did not perform as they have done of late but Southampton must be given credit to turn on a performance like they did. As a CPFC supporter for over 70 years, I can say that if there was a team that was going to help them out it would be Palace. Every other team gives them a beating but not good old CPFC.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 07:54 3 April
07:54 3 April
Highlights and analysis from nine midweek Premier League fixtures.
'It looked like we were mentally tired' - Glasnerpublished at 23:42 2 April
23:42 2 April
Image source, PA Media
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a very difficult game, we were not on our top level, especially with focus and mentality, it looked like we were mentally tired. But it was nothing to do with our attitude. We fought until the last second to get the equaliser,
"It's important to keep going and keep believing, we kept going and even after scoring we wanted to win the game.
"The points is from the character of the team, we know we can play better but sometimes it's not to perform at the best level but to fight and keep going until the last minute. It's a very important point.
"We were missing the accuracy in the final third, the final pass or cross was sloppy."
On Matheus Franca scoring his first Premier League goal: "His first goal for Palace. His first game in one and a half years, injured for 10 months, he also had his birthday this week. It was a great win for him."
Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace: Remarkable Palace run endspublished at 23:13 2 April
23:13 2 April
Alex Brotherton BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
It looked as though Crystal Palace were having a rare off night until substitute Matheus Franca popped up with a header in the second minute of added time, his first goal for the club after an injury-hit 20 months.
Oliver Glasner's side have enjoyed an impressive turnaround after failing to win any of their opening eight league games.
Palace have now taken 37 points from their past 21 league games, a points-per-game return of 1.76. Such a record over a 38-game season would mean them collecting 67 points, which last year would have been good enough to finish fifth and secure a place in the Europa League.
Remarkably this was the first time since 18 December that Palace had conceded away from home in any competition, a run of seven clean sheets.
Franca rescued a point at St Mary's, but with an FA Cup final coming up later this month, Glasner will not be too concerned about underwhelming performance.
Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace: Did you know?published at 23:00 2 April
23:00 2 April
Image source, Getty Images
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their past 10 away league games (W6 D4). In fact, since the start of this run in November, no side has picked up more points on the road than the Eagles in the Premier League (22, alongside Liverpool).
Palace face tough but exciting Premier League run-inpublished at 16:35 2 April
16:35 2 April
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Crystal Palace are flying high after their win over Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-final but now attention turns to their league form.
Their turnaround from the beginning of the season has been excellent and since the start of 2025, only Liverpool (11) have won more games in all competitions among Premier League sides than Oliver Glasner's Palace (10).
The Eagles have lost just twice in their past 15 games - which is all the more impressive when they have only managed to win three games at home in the league all season.
Palace are just two points from Brentford in 10th and eight points away from seventh-placed rivals Brighton who they play on Saturday.
There have been interviews with players in which they reference that they feel they can challenge for those European places, but if Palace are to do that then they will need to continue their run of good form against excellent opposition.
In the last 10 games of the campaign, Palace play eight of the current top 10 sides in the league.
As mentioned, they have only won three games at home all season and their style of play seems to suit when they come up against teams away from Selhurst Park.
However, against some of the sides they are going to face, Palace will not have as much possession as usual, which could suit them when looking at their defensive record this season.
No side has kept more than the eight clean sheets Palace have since the beginning of the year.
Every game in the Premier League is tough but Palace, if they are able to pick up some more impressive results, could have an exciting end to their league season to go with their cup run.
Sutton's predictions: Southampton v Crystal Palacepublished at 11:03 2 April
11:03 2 April
I've been speaking about some teams like Aston Villa and Newcastle who have got a lot to play for this season, but none of that applies to Southampton.
Saints' sole aim now is to pick up three more points and avoid going down with the lowest points tally in Premier League history.
What a depressing place to be for Southampton fans - only possibly saving some face by beating Derby County's pathetic points total of 11 points from 2007-08, when Robbie Savage was captain.
Southampton took the lead when they played Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in December, although they still lost.
I don't see the Eagles having any problems this time, though. Eberechi Eze is on fire for club and country and Ismaila Sarr found the target again in Saturday's FA Cup win over Fulham.
Sarr has gone under the radar a bit but he is one of many Palace players to have hit form, and I don't see Southampton keeping them out.
Southampton v Crystal Palace: Did you know?published at 08:35 2 April
08:35 2 April
Image source, Getty Images
Crystal Palace have won their past four Premier League games against Southampton, as many as they had in their first 25 against them in the competition beforehand.
Southampton have lost each of their past nine Premier League home games. In English top-flight history, the only sides to endure longer home losing runs within a single season are Birmingham (10) and Watford (11).
Gossip: Glasner and Mateta linked with exitspublished at 07:29 2 April
07:29 2 April
Crystal Palace could make a move for Eintracht Frankfurt's 22-year-old French striker Hugo Ekitike if fellow French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, 27, leaves the club this summer. (Teamtalk), external
However, Palace boss Oliver Glasner remains a candidate to take charge of RB Leipzig next season after the German side held talks with the 50-year-old Austrian's representatives. (Sky Germany), external
Glasner on Richards, FA Cup and Southamptonpublished at 16:53 1 April
16:53 1 April
Tasnim Chowdhury BBC Sport journalist
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game at Southampton (kick-off 19:45 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Chris Richards will miss Wednesday's match, "He is struggling a bit with his calf. It doesn't look very serious, so we expect him [to return] against Brighton at the weekend. But tomorrow is a little bit early." Glasner said Jean-Philippe Mateta is "fine", adding: "It looks like he's getting back into his rhythm and that's very positive."
On Adam Wharton: "It wasn't his best performance [against Fulham]. I think Adam can play better than he did. But yes, he has a lot of potential. We could see it last year. But we also can see when you have just a very short time to recover - not just physically, but also mentally. He struggled for six, seven, eight months with several injuries."
On Palace's FA Cup journey: "The most important thing is that we find the switch from the cup game and are not talking about Aston Villa and thinking about Aston Villa. We need to be really in the game tomorrow, and then I think it's possible to celebrate the seventh consecutive away win."
On six away wins without conceding a goal: "It's something I never did before. But it's also [because of] the belief of the players that we can win everywhere. What I liked in the Fulham game is we didn't get nervous after really struggling at the beginning. We relied on our quality, on our system, on what we were planning."
Glasner added: "We know when there are moments in a game when we have to fight for each other, then we fight for each other. There are moments when we have to play together, then we play together. And I think this has really developed over the past months."
On Wednesday's match: "I don't expect a very tactical game because they are playing, especially when we have the ball, more or less a man-to-man defence. I expect many duels. It's about winning your duels."
On Southampton: "They're playing very aggressive. They're very physical. They always get pressure on the ball. You always get pressure on the attacking players. But on the other side, if you lose a duel, you can have very quickly an underload, and so that means always risk and chance."
'Tuchel must have noticed Eze's stellar week'published at 14:55 1 April
14:55 1 April
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
Eberechi Eze was in stunning form as Crystal Palace advanced in the FA Cup on Saturday, so should he be more integral to England's plans?
His first goal for England showed that he was the player most willing to try the unexpected, on what was a regulation 3-0 win against Latvia.
It is only one goal in 10 international appearances for Eze, but, bar one, each has been from the bench, often in an unsuitably defensive position and he is first and foremost a creator anyway. So that equates to one goal in 280 minutes of football, basically one goal in three games worth of playing time, so not bad after all.
In a crowded field with Jack Grealish, Noni Madueke, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer and others now including Marcus Rashford, all vying for those creative positions, his name has often been left out of the conversation, but it shouldn't be.
He destroyed Fulham with another brilliant goal and an equally impressive assist, so he will be heading for Wembley again soon enough this time with Crystal Palace. His attacking skill set as a winger who can beat players with ease is up there with the best.
At 26, he is now entering his prime. Maybe now he should be getting a few more starts for his country, Thomas Tuchel must have noticed his stellar week.
Eze must make use of this time in the spotlight, if he doesn't there will soon be someone else up there nudging him out of the way.
Has cup football got its magic back this season?published at 08:59 1 April
08:59 1 April
Media caption,
Some 31 of the past 36 FA Cups have been won by one of five teams - but only one of those remains in this season's competition, and that is Manchester City.
Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were all knocked out before the quarter-final stage this season and that has opened the door to other clubs to have a chance at getting their hands on the trophy.
"The cup used to be a lot more democratic and dominance of the cup used to be unthinkable," said New York Times chief football correspondent Rory Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "That is unhealthy and it gets boring.
"It takes away a lot of the magic because if you go to seven semi-finals in seven years it takes the shine off.
"But most people don't support those clubs and they support other teams, so Newcastle have been a great advert to why other teams should be going all in for those tournaments."
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "Newcastle's win will change the perception of the competitions that have almost felt second in importance to most Premier League teams."
Why April will be 'season-defining' month for Palacepublished at 12:10 31 March
12:10 31 March
Alex Pewter Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
In the end, all it took was a spell of Eberechi Eze brilliance late in the first half to take Saturday's game away from Fulham, earn a seventh cup win of the season and a place at Wembley for the club's sixth FA Cup semi-final.
Seemingly, the pre-match nerves in the away end at kick-off were not at all necessary, and the "cup specialist" reputation that Oliver Glasner arrived with following his success with Eintracht Frankfurt may carry some weight.
If March was a barren month for Premier League fixtures, having only faced Ipswich, then April is set to be a hectic one by comparison.
The team will be unable to revel in their FA Cup exploits for long. While a fourth game this season against Aston Villa awaits at the end of the month in the cup, the other five league fixtures will be season-defining in their pursuit of a top-half finish and beyond.
Aside from Wednesday's away trip to Southampton, which carries a different sort of pressure as the de facto favourite on paper, each of the remaining matches is against a team from the top half of the table, each either occupying or within touching distance of European qualification.
If Glasner and his team are to stake their claim as contenders, these are precisely the fixtures they will need to win to establish themselves as one. With almost every team element clicking into place at the right time, there is no reason to believe they cannot do just that.
Palace 'absolutely dismantled' Fulhampublished at 10:03 31 March
10:03 31 March
Image source, Getty Images
Crystal Palace are the first English top-flight side to ever win six straight away games without conceding a goal.
"That has blown me away," former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "That is remarkable.
"The result at Fulham caught me off guard because I thought it would be a closer game than it was. Instead, Palace went there and absolutely dismantled Fulham.
"Marco Silva's side didn't look like they had any ideas or answers and Palace looked a class above.
"When you look at Palace now and look into the future of what could happen to them, you think about the players that could be poached. Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr, Adam Wharton and Jean-Phillipe Mateta would be the ones I expect teams to come in for because of the season they are having.
"I am looking at the teams left in the FA Cup and they are probably the one team that could just focus on the competition, so that is an advantage when any one of those teams could win it."
Image source, Getty Images
