Lens await decision as Pierre Sage is targeted by Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Lens face an anxious wait over Pierre Sage as Crystal Palace push to hire the 47-year-old.

According to L'Équipe, Palace are expected to table an opening offer shortly, having identified Sage as Oliver Glasner’s successor after publishing a farewell letter to the Austrian on Tuesday. Glasner’s future could be at AC Milan.

Sage guided Lens to their first Coupe de France on 22 May, beating Nice 3-1. He is trying to keep his holidays normal, visiting Roland-Garros on Tuesday and Wednesday and staying near the Porte d'Auteuil, with family commitments this weekend. His assistant Jamal Alioui is with family in Morocco, while advisers assess options at Lens or elsewhere.

If and when Palace bid, Lens, with two years left on his contract, can demand a high fee. Sage’s stock is high after being named Ligue 1 coach of the year at the UNFP awards. That should not greatly trouble the recent Europa Conference League winners, who beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the final.

Dialogue between Sage and Lens continues, and staying put remains on the table. Yet if he prefers the Premier League, which he dreams of, keeping him against his will would be difficult. Owner Joseph Oughourlian has set wage limits and the proposed rise reflects the 10th budget in Ligue 1, far below English salaries.

Lens are calm but contingency planning exists. Sporting director Jean-Louis Leca has already brought former captain Yannick Cahuzac back to the staff, and he is due to take the BEPF in 2026-2027. Considered a future head coach after assisting Franck Haise in 2022-2023, he must first obtain his diploma.

Source: L'Équipe