Pierre Sage is close to being announced as the new manager of Crystal Palace.
It is understood that only a work permit is preventing the Eagles from officially unveiling the Frenchman as the replacement for Oliver Glasner – after Steve Parish agreed to pay RC Lens an initial £2.6m in compensation.
Sage is set to sign a contract at Selhurst Park running until June 2029 – according to Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport.
The 47-year-old’s talks with Parish will have presumably included the topic of recruitment, and Flashscore believe Ismaelo Ganiou is already a target.
Initial thoughts on Pierre Sage? 🤔
He can boast a 67.5% win ratio from 40 games at RC Lens 😍
Pierre Sage keen to take Ismaelo Ganiou from RC Lens
Flashscore believe Crystal Palace are interested in the France U21 international this summer, along with Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund.
RC Lens value Ganiou at €35m (£30m) after his outstanding 2025/26 campaign, in which he made 23 appearances in the centre of defence – scoring three goals – as the French side finished second behind PSG in Ligue 1.
Our initial thoughts are that this is a strange rumour, considering Crystal Palace already have Maxence Lacroix, Chris Richards, Jaydee Canvot and Chadi Riad in the centre-back department, with only three positions available in the starting XI.
Sage plays the same 3-4-2-1 formation as Glasner, so if a deal for Ganiou does materialise, the 21-year-old would most likely be starting his Crystal Palace career on the bench unless one of the aforementioned defenders were to depart.
The RC Lens No.25 has made 14 appearances at right-back throughout his career, although with Daniel Munoz already in SE25, spending £30m on a backup option would be a strange use of funds.
Who is your DREAM signing? ⭐️
Flashscore do not hold the strongest reputation around for transfer news – it must be said – so at this moment in time, we are taking this rumour with a huge pinch of salt.
- Full name: Pierre-Ismaelo Ganiou
- Age: 21
- Date of birth: 14 March 2005
- Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
- Nationality: France
- Place of birth: Lille
- Club: RC Lens
- Position: Centre-back
