Crystal Palace are set to hold talks with Lens manager Pierre Sage this week, as the south London club step up their search for a new head coach following Oliver Glasner's impending departure.

Palace had identified Andoni Iraola as their first-choice target, making him a firm offer, but the Bournemouth boss is now expected to enter formal negotiations with Liverpool in the coming days. Liverpool are seeking a replacement for Arne Slot, who was sacked on Saturday.

With Iraola apparently heading to Anfield, Palace chairman Steve Parish and the club's hierarchy are widening their search and have made clear they will not be rushed into a decision.

Sage among the leading candidates

Sage, 47, is emerging as a serious contender. BBC Sport first reported Palace's interest in the Frenchman on 8 May, though at that point the club remained focused on landing Iraola. The Lens boss is said to be open to the move and is expected to meet Palace officials in the near future.

Sage took charge at Lens in June last year and swiftly built an impressive track record. He guided the club to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and, more recently, steered them to Coupe de France glory — beating Nice to claim the trophy for the first time in Lens's 120-year history — establishing himself as one of Europe's most exciting young coaches.

A wide field of candidates

Palace are also considering several other names. Coventry manager Frank Lampard, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, former Eintracht Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmoller, ex-Spurs manager Thomas Frank, and former Burnley and Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche are all understood to be in the frame, with a number already having held talks with the club.

Lampard has admirers at Selhurst Park and is aware of Palace's interest. The former Chelsea midfielder has raised his stock at Coventry, guiding the Sky Blues to the Championship title and top-flight promotion. However, he has 12 months remaining on his contract, and prising him from Coventry is expected to come at a significant cost.

McKenna, who engineered Ipswich's return to the Premier League, is on substantial wages at Portman Road and is believed to have a release clause worth a minimum of £5 million — another potential stumbling block for Palace.

Frank, Toppmoller, and Dyche are all currently without clubs, making each of them a more straightforward appointment should Palace move in that direction.

Glasner led Crystal Palace to the FA Cup final last season and delivered the Conference League title this term. He announced in January that he would leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the summer.