Crystal Palace have been linked with several managers as they weigh up the future of Roy Hodgson, who is under pressure after a disastrous run of form.
Palace have won just once in their last eight Premier League games, despite putting in impressive performances against Liverpool and Manchester City, but a decision may be made over Hodgson, who is set to leave at the end of the season regardless of what happens.
Steve Cooper was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest, and has been strongly linked with the Crystal Palace job. Former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui was also linked with both clubs, but it now seems highly unlikely that the Spaniard will end up at Selhurst Park.
Julen Lopetegui unlikely to join Crystal Palace
A report from The Telegraph has now revealed that prior to Nuno Espirito Santo’s appointment as Cooper’s replacement, Lopetegui was considered as a potential candidate, but the former Sevilla boss is waiting for a bigger move.
“Julen Lopetegui, the former Wolves and Real Madrid manager, was initially sounded out. It is said he is holding out for a “bigger” job and considers himself a contender for Manchester United (if Erik ten Hag departs) or West Ham,” the report stated.
In light of this, it now seems highly unlikely that he would be willing to move to Crystal Palace mid-season. Palace have spent far less than Forest, West Ham or Manchester United in recent years, and the nature of the job would not appeal to him compared to clubs competing in Europe.
Would Julen Lopetegui have been good for Crystal Palace?
The Spaniard is a high profile manager, having coached Porto, Real Madrid, Spain and Sevilla in the past, and won the Europa League before joining Wolves last year.
However, he is a manager who requires high levels of backing, and he walked away from his role at Wolves after disagreements over transfers and a fallout with the club hierarchy.
Given Palace’s relatively low level of spending compared to his other clubs, he was always unlikely to take the job, and even if he did, he may have ended up walking if he was not given financial backing beyond Palace’s capabilities.
