Crystal Palace line up Pierre Sage talks in search for Glasner successor
What happened
Crystal Palace are expected to hold talks with Lens head coach Pierre Sage this week as they weigh up a successor to Oliver Glasner, according to the Premier League's official briefing. The club is said to still be examining a number of candidates and intends to take its time before settling on a first-choice target rather than move immediately for one name.
Why it matters
The vacancy is one of the more demanding appointments of the English summer, given Glasner leaves having just delivered the most successful spell in the club's history. Sage represents an ambitious, continental choice with no Premier League track record, and Palace's stated willingness to be patient suggests they are prioritising the right fit over speed even with the transfer window approaching. The search has also been shaped by Andoni Iraola, who had been linked with Selhurst Park before emerging as the front-runner for the parallel vacancy at Liverpool, narrowing Palace's field of realistic targets.
Context
Glasner confirmed back in January that he would leave at the end of his contract, and he bowed out on 27 May with a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League final in Leipzig, Jean-Philippe Mateta's second-half goal securing the club's first European trophy and a place in next season's Europa League. That followed an FA Cup and Community Shield haul the previous campaign.
Sage, meanwhile, has built a fast-rising reputation in France. He took charge of Lens last summer and guided them to a second-place Ligue 1 finish and a Coupe de France triumph, having previously spent just over a year in charge of Lyon until early 2025.
What to watch next
The immediate marker is whether the talks with Sage firm up into a formal approach or Palace broaden their shortlist again. Iraola's final destination will also matter, since clarity at Anfield either reopens or closes a door for Palace. Beyond the name itself, the club will want a head coach in place before the transfer window opens on 15 June and well ahead of a season that begins on 22 August with the added demands of a Europa League campaign.