Crystal Palace have made their move, holding initial talks with Lens manager Pierre Sage about taking charge at Selhurst Park. It is early days, but the fact that conversations have happened at all tells you that Palace are serious about this one.
Sage is not exactly a household name in England, which is honestly part of what makes this interesting. He took over at Lyon in difficult circumstances back in 2023, steadied the ship brilliantly, and has since moved to Lens where he has continued to impress. The man clearly knows how to organise a team and get a tune out of players who might otherwise drift. That is a skill set that any club in the Premier League should find attractive.
For Palace, the search for a new head coach has been one of those jobs that looks straightforward until you actually try to do it. They are a decent club with a good squad, a passionate fanbase, and Selhurst Park which remains one of the most atmospheric grounds in the country. But they are also a club that needs a manager who buys into a project rather than treating it as a stepping stone. Whether Sage is that person remains to be seen.
What is encouraging is that Palace seem to be doing their homework. Going for someone from Ligue 1 with a strong track record rather than just recycling the usual names floating around English football shows some genuine ambition in the recruitment process. Oliver Glasner did well there and left a decent foundation to build on, so whoever comes in has something to work with.
The talks are described as initial, so there is plenty of water to go under the bridge yet. Sage will want to know the plan, the budget, and what kind of support he will get. Palace will want to know if he is ready for the pace and pressure of the Premier League. Both are fair questions.
It is one to watch, and if this does get over the line it could be a genuinely smart appointment. Let me know your thoughts.