Crystal Palace confirm appointment of Pierre Sage as head coach

Crystal Palace are determined to hold on to their best players this summer after confirming the appointment of Pierre Sage as their manager, with the Frenchman to be backed in the transfer market to prepare for their Europa League campaign.

Sage has signed a three-year contract to replace Oliver Glasner, having led Lens to second place in Ligue 1 last season and won the French Cup. He emerged as Palace’s preferred candidate after they missed out on Andoni Iraola and it is understood that the 47-year-old’s preference to play a 3-4-2-1 system was a key factor in his appointment.

“It’s amazing to be here at Crystal Palace,” Sage said. “I am excited by the history of the club, and by recent seasons. Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same. That’s why we come here with a lot of ambition. The dynamic here is really positive, and we are in this mindset too. We won last year –and we want to continue in this way, in a new club, a new project, but with a lot of winning habits.”

Sage, who will be joined by his assistant from Lens, Jamal Alioui, a former Morocco defender, is believed to have been offered assurances by Palace’s co-chair, Steve Parish, that he will be able to strengthen the squad. They are in the market for a central midfielder and have held talks with Middlesbrough over Hayden Hackney, although Everton are also interested in the England Under 21 player.

Palace are also believed got be targeting a central defender to provide extra cover for their second European campaign after winning the Conference League under Glasner last month. But they could face a fight to keep hold of Maxence Lacroix, who is part of France’s World Cup squad and is thought to have interest from clubs including Liverpool and Manchester United. Adam Wharton, Daniel Muñoz and Ismaïla Sarr are also expected to attract interest, with Liverpool heavily tracking Wharton despite the midfielder missing out on the World Cup.

Palace confirmed last week that they had offered Daichi Kamada a new deal but the Japan midfielder, who scored against the Netherlands on Sunday, has yet to commit his future. A new contract has also been on the table for Jean-Philippe Mateta since his January move to Milan broke down but the France striker would be sold if another club meet their valuation of the 28-year-old.

“I am tremendously excited to welcome Pierre, who joins us off the back of a trophy-winning season at Lens as well as a fabulous second-place finish in Ligue 1,” Parish said. “As we move into another European campaign off the back of our success in Leipzig, I know he will give everything to target more success for our fantastic football club.”