Crystal Palace ‘to make a move’ for Pierre Sage | OneFootball

Crystal Palace are pursuing RC Lens head coach Pierre Sage after a standout first season with the French club. An exchange between the Frenchman and Palace is understood to have taken place on Monday.

According to the BBC, Palace, recent Europa Conference League winners, are set to step up their move and have identified Sage as the ideal successor to Oliver Glasner. He has been on Liverpool’s shortlist but not the favourite to follow Arne Slot, while Andoni Iraola is expected to head to Anfield.

Sage, 47, is under contract until 2028 and was named Ligue 1 coach of the year three weeks ago after winning the Coupe de France and finishing runners-up with Lens. Around the cup final he said he needed a few days to decide amid multiple approaches, adding that the idea for now was to stay.

Remaining at Racing to experience the Champions League is still an option, although the Premier League, his dream league, also appeals. Palace interest has been building for weeks.

Lens chiefs say they are calm about the uncertainty, and president Joseph Oughourlian signalled the club will stick to its wage structure despite outside interest. A proposed pay rise cannot compete with Premier League finances, there are no talks scheduled with Palace as it stands, and the coming hours could be lively as the club checks in with its coach.

Source: L'Équipe