Crystal Palace has officially held talks with Pierre Sage, the manager of Lens, regarding the head coach position following the departure of Oliver Glasner at the end of last season.

According to BBC Sport, Sage has emerged as a leading candidate for the Eagles, who are keen on securing a new managerial direction. The club has initiated discussions with Lens to negotiate a financial package aimed at releasing Sage from his current contract.

Key highlights of Sage's tenure at Lens include:

• Taking over as manager in June last year.
• Leading the club to a remarkable second-place finish in Ligue 1.
• Securing the Coupe de France, marking the club's first victory in this competition in their 120-year history.

The pursuit of Sage comes after Palace's efforts to attract their top target, Andoni Iraola, fell through, as he has opted to join Liverpool on a two-year contract instead.

In addition to Sage, the Eagles are also considering other managerial options, including Frank Lampard, Kieran McKenna, and Sean Dyche.