Crystal Palace may turn to 47-year-old RC Lens head coach Pierre Sage if they fail to land Andoni Iraola in the coming weeks.
According to an update by French journalist Sebastien Vidal, Pierre Sage is the subject of interest from Crystal Palace. The Eagles are scouring the managerial market for a long-term replacement for Oliver Glasner and have set their sights on the RC Lens boss. However, a summer deal may not be straightforward due to his ongoing productive stints with the Ligue 1 club.
Pierre Sage has established himself as one of the most exciting young managers in Ligue 1 since taking over at RC Lens last summer. The Frenchman went under the radar during his time as a footballer, as he never pursued the sport professionally. Instead, he represented amateur clubs CS Belley and Oyonnax Plastics Vallée before moving to work behind the scenes in the game.
The 47-year-old represented clubs in different capacities before rising in prominence during his stint with Lyon. However, Sage has seen his stock skyrocket after moving to RC Lens, helping the Ligue 1 club challenge for the league title in his debut season before falling short towards the end.
Les Sang et Or can end the 2025/26 campaign with a trophy, as they will compete in the Coupe de France final against OGC Nice on Friday night. With Sage making an impression in his debut season with Lens, he has piqued the attention of several well-known clubs, with Crystal Palace among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.
Crystal Palace’s interest in Pierre Sage is understandable. The Eagles are sweating over their next managerial appointment since Oliver Glasner announced that he would depart from Selhurst Park after the 2025/26 season. The Austrian tactician leaves an indelible mark on the South London club after guiding them to their first-ever trophy by winning the FA Cup last term.
Glasner can add to his legacy by winning the UEFA Europa Conference League this term, and replacing him will be an uphill task. However, Sage can ensure smooth succession, as his style of play entails combining positional play with intense and direct transitions, exactly what Glasner has adopted at Selhurst Park during his stint thus far.
Additionally, Sage has shown at RC Lens that he can enable his charges to play as more than the sum of their parts. However, the 47-year-old Frenchman is a backup target for Palace, as they are working on landing Andoni Iraola. However, with Liverpool recently emerging as a suitor for the Spaniard, the Eagles are in a spot of bother in the battle for his signature.
