Pierre Sage: Next Crystal Palace manager handed ‘huge’ job as three more big names could go

Pierre Sage is increasingly likely to become the next Crystal Palace manager but will meet immediate issues facing him at Selhurst Park.

The RC Lens boss is highly regarded by the Palace hierarchy after leading the Ligue 1 outfit to a second-place finish, and has become their top target.

However, following the departure of Oliver Glasner, the Eagles are bracing for interest in a number of their top players including the likes of Adam Wharton.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Sage will have a “huge” job on his hands to keep his best players at Crystal Palace.

Securing Europa League football for next season after lifting the Conference League has been an immediate boost, but concerns have lingered in South London.

Could Crystal Palace be set to lose their star players?

Brown told Football Insider on 3 June that Crystal Palace hope to keep their best players including Wharton, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Maxence Lacroix.

However, they are in danger of losing all three, with interest also growing in key players including Daniel Munoz and Dean Henderson, while Daichi Kamada is likely to leave.

Sage, or whoever the Eagles select to become their next manager following Glasner’s exit, will be presented with a huge task immediately upon taking over.

“Palace want to get their next manager in quickly,” Brown told Football Insider.

“They need to know what direction they’re heading in, the style of play, the players they want to bring in and more importantly the players they want to keep.

“That’s going to be a huge job for whoever comes in, because they’re at risk of losing some big players from the spine of their team.

“When you look through the team, there’s talk about Lacroix, Wharton, Mateta.

“I’ve always said, Palace have to be doing everything in their power to keep their best players at the club, and any new manager will hope for the same."

Is Pierre Sage set to become the next Crystal Palace manager?

Sage has emerged as the new front-runner to become the next Palace manager after talks with the Eagles, while he has informed Lens he will be moving on.

They had previously considered Andoni Iraola as their top target, but he is expected to join Liverpool, while Frank Lampard is also firmly on their radar.

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider on 2 June that Sage would be perfect for Crystal Palace, as he tipped him for success in South London.

The former Lyon boss led Lens to win the Coupe De France this season alongside a second-placed finish, and is likely to match the Eagles’ ambitions.

Palace are keen to build on the success Glasner brought to Selhurst Park, having won three trophies in two years, and see Sage as the right man for the job.