Liverpool sent representatives to hold talks with RC Lens manager Pierre Sage in January | OneFootball

Liverpool sent representatives to hold talks with RC Lens manager Pierre Sage in January, according to French journalist Fabrice Hawkins.

Liverpool admire the Frenchman but he is not expected to replace Arne Slot at the Anfield club.

Former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is the favourite to become the Reds’ manager, but Pierre could be a name to keep tabs on, with David Ornstein reporting that he is being considered as an option.

The 47-year-old helped Lens to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 this term, six points behind Paris Saint-Germain.

The former Lyon boss won the French Cup with his club earlier this month and was voted Ligue 1 Manager of the Year by the union of professional footballers in France.

It is clear to see why Liverpool admire him and he could emerge as a future target even if Iraola pips him to the job.

Sage does not have plenty of experience having overseen just 109 games as a manager, but his impressive stint at Lyon and current job with Lens have attracted the Merseyside club.

He was Lyon’s academy manager for five months before getting appointed as interim manager after Fabio Grosso was sacked in November 2023.

They qualified for the Europa League at the end of that season after finishing sixth, but he was sacked in January 2025 before moving to Lens five months later.

Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness is also an option for Liverpool, and he was once the name every club was talking about earlier this year.

The 44-year-old led his side to fourth place in the Bundesliga this term after a ninth-place finish and a German Cup last season.