(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Evan Shaw

Tue 2 June 2026 19:00, UK

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Pierre Sage would be a “great addition” for Crystal Palace if they can convince him to leave Lens and become their new manager.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who has revealed that Lens’ owners rate the 47-year-old “very highly” due to his work this season.

Sage is in ongoing talks with the Eagles’ hierarchy over a move to appoint him as Oliver Glasner’s successor, with the Frenchman clearly ticking a lot of boxes for what Palace want from their next boss.

The ex-Lyon chief led Lens to Coupe De France glory this term, and also pushed PSG right to the wire in the race for the Ligue 1 title.

A switch to Selhurst Park could now be on the cards in the coming weeks, and that is something that Wyness feels would be a hugely positive step for Palace.

Steve Parish owed ‘kudos’ if Pierre Sage deal is agreed

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that appointing Sage would “almost assure” another season of huge progress on the pitch.

The Scottish businessman shares a relationship with the owners of Lens and believes that their boss would be the right man to help take the Eagles to the next level in 2026-27 and beyond.

Speaking exclusively on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness tipped Sage to achieve “great things” if he does take the reins at Selhurst.

“I know the Lens owners quite well. They also have some shares in, or at least one of the major owners has shares in Atletico Madrid,” he said.

“They rate Sage very highly, and I think he is one who will emerge like we’ve seen with Glasner and (Andoni) Iraola recently. I think he would be a great addition for Palace if they get him.

“If they can pull that one off, I would expect great things, and I think that would be big news for Palace coming off the back of their European trophy as well. This would be almost assuring another strong season from Palace going forward.

🚨 Luis Enrique: “This is the first time since I've been here that a team has given us so much trouble. Nobody imagined this at the start of the season”.

“Congrats to Lens and to Pierre Sage, he deserves to win the Ligue 1 best coach trophy. What he's done is incredible”. pic.twitter.com/Crw40ePK9e

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 12, 2026

“It would be a kudos to Steve Parish if he pulls this one off.”

Sage keen as Crystal Palace ready ‘big’ deal

Football Insider revealed on Monday that Sage is keen on a move to Palace this summer, and the South Londoners are doing “everything they can” to convince him to join.

Parish and Co. are understood to have a “big deal” lined up to prise Lens’ chief away, even if the French side are fighting to keep hold of their boss if at all possible.

Sage has secured Champions League football for the Ligue 1 outfit for next term, but it is expected that the lure of the chance to work in the Premier League will prove too strong to resist.

Palace have considered the likes of Thomas Frank and Andoni Iraola as potential candidates in recent weeks, but their search has now narrowed down, and Sage is the clear preferred candidate.