Crystal Palace are set to make a major managerial appointment this summer, with RC Lens boss Pierre Sage emerging as their top target to replace Oliver Glasner.
The south London club recently won the UEFA Conference League and are determined to make a bold statement with their next managerial hire.
According to Julien Laurens of ESPN, Crystal Palace are actively preparing a formal offer for Sage, who has just been crowned Ligue 1 Manager of the Season.
The 47-year-old French tactician is currently under contract with Lens for another two years, with owner Joseph Oughourlian desperate to keep him ahead of a potential Champions League campaign.
However, sources have revealed that Oughourlian is fully aware of Sage’s personal desire to test himself in English football next season.
The prospect of managing the recently crowned UEFA Conference League champions makes Palace an especially attractive proposition for the in-demand coach.
Reports indicate that Palace have already begun talks with the French club, who are bracing for a formal opening offer from chairman Steve Parish and the board within hours.
The race for Sage’s signature carries significant weight across the Premier League, with the Frenchman also heavily linked with the vacant managerial position at Anfield.
Liverpool’s recruitment team added Sage to their shortlist following the dismissal of Arne Slot, though the Merseyside club are currently pushing hard to finalise a deal with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.
Sage remains a high-priority alternative for Liverpool should their pursuit of Iraola fail to reach a conclusion in the coming days.
Palace’s decision to move aggressively for Sage stems directly from the collapse of their own pursuit of Iraola, making a swift appointment essential this summer.
After a brief spell at Lyon, Sage took over a mid-table Lens squad last summer and completely transformed their fortunes using a fluid, high-octane system.
He guided Lens to a historic Coupe de France trophy and pushed Paris Saint-Germain to the wire in a thrilling Ligue 1 title race throughout the campaign.
His exceptional track record of developing elite young talent makes him an ideal modern profile to take charge of a Palace squad hungry for continued success.
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