What happened: Crystal Palace has entered advanced negotiations with RC Lens to appoint Pierre Sage as the club's new head coach. Sage, who transformed Lens into a Champions League side last season, has reportedly been ready to accept the project since last week as the London club moves to finalize its managerial search.
Why it matters: The move follows the departure of Oliver Glasner, who exited after leading Palace to their first major European trophy. Palace has been pursuing Sage due to his tactical flexibility and elite performance in Ligue 1, where he was recently named Manager of the Year.
By the numbers: Crystal Palace 2025-26: 15th in Premier League (45 points, 11-12-15 record); 2026 UEFA Conference League champions following a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano.
What to watch: Negotiations are expected to conclude shortly as Crystal Palace aims to have Sage in place before the start of their 2026-27 Europa League campaign.