Crystal Palace May Sidestep Big Payout if Sage Returns to Lens
Crystal Palace might dodge a hefty compensation fee if Pierre Sage heads back to his former club Lens, with his departure from Selhurst Park still in limbo.
Sage’s fate was seemingly sealed on Sunday after the team suffered a disheartening 3-1 loss to Liverpool, marking their fourth straight defeat. This slump has left them at the bottom of the Premier League table for the first time since 2017.
While reports suggested that Sage had been let go, there’s been no official confirmation yet. Negotiations regarding compensation for his three-year deal are reportedly still ongoing. However, the situation shifted dramatically when Lens sacked Yannick Cahuzac following a dismal 9-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League, followed by a 2-1 loss to Marseille in Ligue 1.
Joseph Oughourlian, Lens’ owner and president, has kept in touch with Sage since his move to the Premier League, which the 47-year-old described as a “dream.” Given Sage’s previous success with Lens, including a French Cup win and a Ligue 1 runners-up finish, Oughourlian is believed to be keen on bringing him back to help revive their season. If that happens, Palace could avoid any further payments after already shelling out over £4 million to hire Sage last summer.
Cahuzac, who stepped up from his assistant role to replace Dino Toppmöller, faced mounting pressure after only four matches in charge. Frustrated fans even displayed a banner during the game against Marseille, labeling the players a “disgrace.”
Despite the turmoil, Sage held onto hope for more time to turn the ship around, though signs of improvement have been scarce since a heavy 5-0 defeat to Brighton last month. While some players have reportedly questioned his training methods, others have rallied to support him following the Liverpool loss.
Thomas Frank, the former manager of Tottenham and Brentford, is emerging as the top candidate to take over at Palace. He expressed a desire for a new challenge and had previously engaged in talks with the club before they opted for Sage. Other names in the mix include Sean Dyche and Vítor Pereira, while Eddie Howe appears to have turned down initial inquiries in recent weeks.
