Dougie Freedman has been linked with Newcastle United’s sporting director vacancy for quite some time with Dan Ashworth set to depart the St. James’ Park outfit for Manchester United – but after weeks of speculation, it appears that the Crystal Palace transfer chief is set to stay in south London after signing a new contract.
Freedman, a former Palace manager and player, has been influential for the club over the past few months after appointing Oliver Glasner as manager; a move which has seen the Eagles go from relegation worries to the top half of the Premier League on the final day of the season with six wins from their last seven games. His impressive nature saw Newcastle signal their interest; but according to David Ornstein, that move won’t go ahead with the Scot set to stay at Selhurst Park.
Dougie Freedman: Crystal Palace Transfer Latest
The Scottish director is set to keep his place in South London
The report from Ornstein on Thursday morning suggested that Freedman had emerged as a leading candidate for the Newcastle vacancy with Ashworth set to depart, and talks had taken place between himself and the club with the Magpies aiming for a huge transfer window of their own
But after a strong few months in south London, Freedman has decided to end speculation over his future by staying on – with Newcastle being informed of his decision on Thursday morning, leaving the Magpies in the lurch.
Ashworth still hasn’t departed for Manchester United, with the latest on his transfer saga being an ordeal that saw him use his Newcastle email to correspond with incoming Red Devils CEO Omar Berrada about potential new deals at Old Trafford before a move was even made, which has opened up a can of worms in legal terms. However, the sporting director has now reportedly claimed that Eddie Howe tried to force him out of the club.
It perhaps is this that has convinced Freedman to stay at Palace. As a player, he made over 300 appearances for the Eagles before taking them to safety as manager in 2011-12, including a famous win over United at Old Trafford – and this commitment to the cause could elevate his legend status further.
Freedman May be Best Off Staying at Crystal Palace
The Eagles have enjoyed a rapid rise over the past six months
Palace were the form side throughout the Premier League towards the end of the season, with stars such as Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Adam Wharton all shining under Glasner’s guidance that took Palace from 15th to 10th in the space of just a few months – and fans will be hoping that the good times can continue at Selhurst Park in the meantime.
It’s an exciting time to be a Palace fan. There is the expectation that one of their more valuable stars – Eze, Olise or Marc Guehi specifically – will move on in the summer, but that will only give Palace more scope to use the incoming fee wisely to bolster their squad and even then, retaining the players they have could be massive going forward.
This is a squad that had massively untapped potential with Roy Hodgson at the helm, but Glasner has unlocked that with ease, with Palace putting five past West Ham United and Aston Villa, alongside a 4-0 win over Manchester United at Selhurst Park at the start of the month.
