Pierre Sage is closing in on moving to Crystal Palace, with the South London club reaching an agreement in principle to land him, as per Sky Sports.
Oliver Glasner has departed Crystal Palace, and they need to replace him properly. Pierre Sage has done quite well with Ligue 1 outfit RC Lens, finishing as the runners-up in Ligue 1 this term, and a report by Sky Sports has revealed that the 47-year-old is on the verge of moving to Selhurst Park.
Despite working with limited resources, Sage exceeded expectations with his team and helped them outperform relative to their squad value. Glasner similarly overachieved at Crystal Palace and helped them win the FA Cup, the Community Shield, and the UEFA Europa Conference League during his stint with the South London outfit.
Sage could be the ideal replacement for Crystal Palace, with the Eagles recently gaining confidence in his pursuit. The Frenchman helped RC Lens bounce back from an eighth-placed finish in 2024/25 to compete with PSG for the Ligue 1 title in the 2025/26 campaign.
Lens also won the Coupe de France this past season. They have been one of Europe’s most over-achieving teams relative to their squad value and resources. Crystal Palace have, unsurprisingly, moved to appoint him as their next manager, as he fits the bill at the South London club.
Why Pierre Sage is a good fit for Crystal Palace
The French tactician’s attacking philosophy could be ideal for their current players. Sage’s system entails winning the ball aggressively and relies on immediate transitions to create opportunities before the opposition can reorganise. His fast-break and direct style of attack would suit players like Ismaila Sarr, Brennan Johnson, and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
In addition, the 47-year-old will hero players like Adam Wharton who are exceptional at regaining possession and creating transitions immediately. Crystal Palace used a formation with three centre-backs under Glasner, and Sage has excelled in a similar structure at RC Lens as well.
The Frenchman would not need to make too many changes to Glasner’s approach at Crystal Palace, and he could be an ideal fit for the London club. His exciting style of football is likely to appeal to the fans. Crystal Palace must now complete the appointment before pre-season begins. The report by Sky Sports has revealed that the Eagles are “close to agreeing a compensation package” with Lens.
They will be competing in the UEFA Europa League next season and needed a quality manager to keep them competitive at the highest level. Pierre Sage, who has been pushing to move to Selhurst Park, will look to prove himself in the Premier League and when Crystal Palace compete in Europe this upcoming campaign.