Pierre Sage informs Lens of exit as Crystal Palace move edges closer

Crystal Palace are closing in on the appointment of Pierre Sage after he informed Lens that he intends to leave the club this summer.

The 47-year-old has emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace Oliver Glasner, who is set to depart Selhurst Park after a successful spell in charge.

Sage has already told Lens officials that his time at the club is coming to an end after just one season.

The development comes as Palace continue to advance discussions with the highly rated manager.

Sage enjoyed a remarkable campaign with Lens last season.

The Frenchman guided the club to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and delivered the Coupe de France, securing the club’s first triumph in the competition.

Palace have been monitoring Sage for several weeks and intensified their interest after it became clear that their pursuit of other managerial targets was unlikely to succeed.

The Premier League club are believed to view Sage as a coach capable of building on the foundations left behind by Glasner while also bringing his own progressive style of football.

Palace are not the only club interested in securing Sage’s services.

Clubs from the Middle East have approached the Frenchman, while he has previously been linked with several high-profile vacancies across Europe.

Despite that competition, Palace appear to be in a strong position as negotiations move towards a conclusion.

Sage hinted at uncertainty over his future following Lens’ Coupe de France success, acknowledging that interest from elsewhere could influence his next career move.

The French club had hoped to build on last season’s success under Sage, but preparations are already underway for life without the coach.

The appointment would represent another ambitious move for Palace as they look to establish themselves among the Premier League’s most competitive sides.

Sage’s reputation has grown significantly over the past year, and his achievements with Lens have convinced many observers that he is ready for a step up to one of Europe’s major leagues.