EXCLUSIVE: Crystal Palace hold talks with Former Nottingham Forest coach and Europa League winner with Steve Parish now seriously considering move to sack Roy Hodgson following relegation fears
Crystal Palace have held talks with recently dismissed Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper but he faces growing competition from ex-Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, sources have told Football Insider.
It is believed that current manager Roy Hodgson, 76, could depart the club as early as the next week following the Eagles’ nosedive in form.
As revealed by Football Insider earlier this month (21 December), Cooper is at the top of the Croydon club’s managerial shortlist.
But Lopetegui is also a strong contender for the post and has been spotted at Selhurst Park as he looks for a return to the Premier League.
The Palace board, chaired by Steve Parish, could end Hodgson’s contract well before it expires at the end of the season.
Palace are more likely to let the 76-year-old go by mutual consent rather than sack him during his second spell in charge of the south London side.
Cooper, 44, and the club have been in contact for some time and the board even offered him the job last summer before agreeing to extend Hodgson’s contract.
Football Insider broke the news on 20th December that Hodgson could become the next Premier League boss to leave as Palace have been waiting for Cooper to become available.
Cooper was sacked by Forest on 19 December following a stretch of six games without a win in the Premier League. Another manager who has also emerged as favourite for Hodgson’s job is former Europa League winner Julen Lopetegui. The former Wolves boss is also in running for the job at the Palace stadium having been out of job since leaving Wolves by mutual consent after steering them past the relegation zone last season.
Crystal Palace have not won a single game since their 2-0 win against Burnley in early November and have picked up just three points since.
The next welcome Brentford to Selhurst Park on Saturday (30 December) after their 2-1 loss to Chelsea on Wednesday (27 December).
