Crystal Palace are ambitiously pushing to hire Andoni Iraola as a replacement for Oliver Glasner, but there are other candidates under consideration.
Talks with Iraola are ongoing despite the threat of a potential swoop from Liverpool, although the BBC have claimed that a move for Pierre Sage has also been ‘explored’ by Crystal Palace.
If the RC Lens boss does end up replacing Glasner at Selhurst Park this summer, the potential appointment has already been given a seal of approval by Odsonne Edouard.
Who do YOU want as the next Crystal Palace boss? 🤔
Odsonne Edouard has backed Pierre Sage to “be among the ten best coaches in the world”
The Eagles sold the Frenchman to RC Lens in a £3m deal back in September, where he linked up with Sage.
Edouard and the 47-year-old have since combined to create a memorable season for RC Lens, who amazingly finished second in Ligue 1 behind PSG by just six points.
The former Crystal Palace striker scored 12 goals and provided three assists in 29 appearances as he became a talismanic figure for RC Lens.
Unsurprisingly given his personal success and the rise of RC Lens as a team, Edouard spoke very highly about Sage during an interview with Onze Mondial earlier this season.
The 28-year-old said: “Pierre Sage is a very good coach. He’s very good tactically. I think you can see that in the results and the style of play. Nobody expected us to have 53 points in 24 matches. All of this shows that we have a top coach.
“He’ll be among the ten best coaches in the world in the coming years. I’m convinced of it, and I certainly wouldn’t be surprised.”
Sage typically uses a 3-4-2-1 formation at RC Lens, the same shape Glasner has instilled at Selhurst Park.
So, the Crystal Palace squad should presumably be able to adapt quite easily if the Frenchman ends up replacing the Austrian.
Iraola is the dream for many fans with Bournemouth currently on a 17-game unbeaten run and on the verge of qualifying for UEFA Champions League football.
Would you try to keep Glasner or push for Iraola? 👀
However, if Sage is the one who replaces Glasner, there is plenty of evidence to suggest he too would be an exciting appointment by Steve Parish.
