Birmingham City have now made Crystal Palace target Steve Cooper their No.1 choice to replace Wayne Rooney.
That is according to The Sun.
So, what is the latest on Steve Cooper for Crystal Palace fans to digest? Let’s take a look…
Birmingham City want Steve Cooper
Well, Steve Parish appeared to have a free run at the 44-year-old after he was sacked by Nottingham Forest.
The Daily Mail revealed on Thursday that Crystal Palace would not have to pay compensation or wait for any period of gardening leave to end before Cooper can be hired, amid doubts over the future of Roy Hodgson.
Now – however – The Sun believe Birmingham City have made the Welshman their No.1 target as Rooney also struggles to obtain positive results.
A source told The Sun: “For the owners, Steve Cooper is at the top of the list. It would be an audacious, massive move because most people in the game expect Cooper to remain in the Premier League.
“He’s one of the most highly regarded coaches in England and has won many admirers for the job he did at Forest.”
It would be a major shock if Cooper did agree to take over at Birmingham City – who currently sit 19th in the Championship under Rooney – although stranger things have happened in football.
Crystal Palace need to make a decision ASAP
As we approach the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, Parish needs to make a decision on Cooper as soon as possible.
The Pontypridd-born tactician is surely going to be on the shortlist for other clubs who are considering a change in the dugout, so while the competition for his signature is fairly minimal, the Eagles need to act.
If we decide to keep faith with Hodgson and nothing changes – we highly doubt anything will – then Parish runs a real risk of missing out on Cooper, who is seemingly our No.1 target as well having already interviewed him back in the summer.
