Crystal Palace have reportedly reached an agreement in principle to appoint RC Lens manager Pierre Sage as the club’s next head coach, with the French tactician expected to replace Oliver Glasner at Selhurst Park.
The Premier League side turned their attention to Sage after failing to secure the services of Andoni Iraola, who recently took over at Liverpool following Arne Slot’s departure.
According to reports, Palace are preparing a long-term deal for Sage that would keep him at the club until June 2029, with an option to extend the contract by an additional year. Discussions are now focused on agreeing a compensation package with Lens to facilitate the 46-year-old’s departure from the French club.
Sage is poised to succeed Glasner, whose contract expires on June 30. The Austrian manager has chosen not to renew his deal, bringing an end to a highly successful spell in charge of the Eagles.
During his tenure, Glasner guided Crystal Palace to unprecedented success, helping the club secure the FA Cup, Community Shield, and UEFA Conference League titles. His achievements have been widely regarded as one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
Palace executives reportedly identified Sage as their preferred candidate due to his impressive tactical philosophy and accomplishments in French football. The former Lens boss earned widespread praise after steering the club into an unexpected Ligue 1 title race with Paris Saint-Germain.
Under his leadership, Lens remained among the league’s top contenders until the closing stages of the campaign. He also led the club to victory in the Coupe de France, securing the first major trophy in Lens’ history.
Sage is known for deploying an attacking style built around a back-three system, with teams capable of creating chances and competing effectively even without dominating possession. Those qualities are believed to closely match the football philosophy that brought Crystal Palace success under Glasner.
Should the remaining negotiations be finalized, Sage will take charge of a Palace side aiming to sustain its recent achievements and continue building on the momentum created during the club’s golden era under Glasner.
