Crystal Palace In Advanced Talks With Lens Boss Pierre Sage Over Head Coach Role

Crystal Palace have held formal talks with Lens manager Pierre Sage as they continue their search for a new head coach this summer.

The Premier League club are looking to fill the vacancy left by Oliver Glasner, who departed Selhurst Park at the end of last season.

Sage, 47, has emerged as a serious target for the Eagles, with BBC Sport previously identifying him as one of the leading candidates for the position.

Palace have now made direct contact with Lens to begin discussions over a financial package that would release the Frenchman from his contract with the Ligue 1 club.

Sage took charge at Lens in June last year and immediately made an impression, guiding the club to a second-place finish in Ligue 1.

His debut season in charge also delivered historic silverware, as Lens beat Nice to win the Coupe de France for the first time in the club’s 120-year history.

That record of domestic success has clearly caught the attention of Palace’s hierarchy as they look to build a competitive squad heading into the new campaign.

Crystal Palace had initially set their sights on Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as their preferred candidate to take charge at Selhurst Park.

However, Iraola has since agreed to join Liverpool on a two-year contract, forcing Palace to redirect their efforts elsewhere in the managerial market.

Frank Lampard, Kieran McKenna and Sean Dyche were among the other names considered as alternatives before attention turned firmly to Sage.

Palace will be hopeful of concluding a deal with Lens in the coming days as they aim to have their new manager in place ahead of pre-season preparations.

Sage’s impressive record in France makes him an attractive proposition for a Palace side keen to continue building on the progress made under Glasner in previous seasons.

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