Man Utd dealt blow in sporting director pursuit as Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish reveals Dougie Freedman is yet to hold talks over vacant role

The Crystal Palace chairman, Parish, heaped praise on the club's sporting director while confirming that Freedman has not held talks with Manchester United over joining them. As per a report by The Sun, incoming INEOS CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe was planning to rope in Freedman from Palace as the club's new sporting director once he secured a 25% stake at the club.

His first move was to remove Richard Arnold as the club's chief executive, who himself stepped down on Tuesday.

The 49-year-old former Palace striker has been with the club for some time, first as a manager from 2011 to 2012 and then rejoining The Eagles as their sporting director in 2017. Freedman has been instrumental in signing young players like Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Marc Guehi who have been major hits at the club. He also played an important role in finalising the successful loan move of Conor Gallagher from Chelsea in 2021.

Speaking on Rest is Football, Parish said, "You would have to get into the minds of those people (Manchester United decision makers) wouldn't you? I certainly don't think there's been any conversations. It's flattering for the club. You guys live in the world where 50 per cent of the stories in the media are true. 50 per cent are not. We just don't know which ones yet. (He's been) really important."

The chairman added, "He's a brilliant guy. He was the second manager I had at the club. He was instrumental in us getting promoted. He's been instrumental, he saved the club (as a player) when we were about to get relegated from the Championship with a last-minute goal at Stockport. He got us promoted while playing for Wolves. He's got a real affinity to the club and works really hard. We have signed some really good players and most importantly - the transfer window which is probably the hardest part of the job - it's fun being involved in it with him. The fact he's being linked with clubs like that shows he's doing the right thing."

After Arnold's removal, the incumbent sporting director John Murtough is also running the risk of losing his job once Ratcliffe formally comes on board. Murtough has been criticised for making big-money signings like Jadon Sancho and Antony in the last couple of years which have turned out to be woeful.