Sources: Crystal Palace's three-man shortlist to replace Pierre Sage revealed

Crystal Palace have begun considering replacements for Pierre Sage as he edges closer to the sack, sources have told Football Insider.

The decision-makers behind the scenes are holding internal talks about their next steps, with Sunday's 5-0 defeat against Brighton casting serious doubts over the manager's future.

Three names have already emerged as leading candidates for the Eagles, with Rob Edwards, Sean Dyche and Thomas Frank currently seen as the most likely contenders.

Sources say Palace sporting director Matt Hobbs is pushing for Edwards' appointment, having previously worked with him at Wolves, with the boss currently out of work.

Iain Moody, who is close to the Palace board, is believed to be a vocal backer of Dyche and his credentials, and would like to bring the former Everton boss to South London.

Lastly, Frank was a leading contender for the job before Sage's appointment and he still has admirers behind the scenes, and remains high on Palace's list.

Who are the front-runners for the Crystal Palace job?

Football Insider exclusively revealed last month that Edwards is seen as a leading cotender to become the next Crystal Palace manager thanks to his relationship with Hobbs.

With pressure now piling on Sage following a 5-0 defeat to Brighton, and a feeling that he has now lost the support of the board, they could soon be forced into a decision.

The Frenchman is fighting for his job, with major concerns about Palace's defensive structure, and all three of Edwards, Dyche and Frank would be seen as solutions to that problem.

However, the chief decision-makers at Selhurst Park must get their heads together and decide on their chief target if they are to pull the trigger on Sage in the near future.

There is no immediate word from the club that Sage will be sacked this week, but Steve Parish and his allies are unhappy, and could jump into a decision at any moment.

What is the latest on Pierre Sage's future?

Crystal Palace's ongoing concerns about Sage have grown throughout the season, and while they have been keen to support his ideas, their patience is now growing thin.

Following back-to-back defeats against Lyon and Brighton, the latter of which was a huge blow, the boss' position is beginnig to feel untenable with the board unhappy.

Football Insider revealed last month that Sage was fighting for his job at Crystal Palace, and despite an upturn in their form in the following weeks, that has not changed.

There are also concerns about the manager's actions in the dressing room, where he has chosen to publicly call out underperforming players and axe them from his squad.

All of these issues have now begun to stack up for the Crystal Palace hierarchy, and there is a growing feeling that Sage could soon be dismissed from his position.