Crystal Palace have been forced to turn their attentions elsewhere after prime managerial target Andoni Iraola has decided not to leave Bournemouth this summer and head to Selhurst Park. Iraola reportedly only wants to leave the Vitality Stadium to join a "big club."
Crystal Palace are being forced to move onto other targets to replace Oliver Glasner at Selhurst Park this summer, with their first choice Andoni Iraola, opting not to leave Bournemouth.
Palace had made Iraola their No.1 choice to take over from the Austrian, with the club looking to secure a manager before the first day of pre-season, and ideally before the World Cup starts, to have a say in transfer business.
But, according to Sky Sports News’ James Savundra, Iraola has decided to stay put.
The Spaniard could yet move this summer, but only if it is to a “big club”, with Manchester United still a possibility with their situation surrounding Michael Carrick.
Savundra said on the Sky Sports website: "Crystal Palace are believed be moving onto other managerial targets with Andoni Iraola unlikely to switch Bournemouth for Selhurst Park.
“Ideally for Palace, Iraola would be a prime candidate to replace the outgoing Oliver Glasner when both their contracts expire this summer.
“But Iraola, who also has interest from Atletico Bilbao in his native Basque region of Spain, is believed to prefer to stay at Bournemouth unless one of the big clubs comes calling.
“Bournemouth have offered him a new contract but Iraola has not yet given the club an answer and is not expected to do so until the end of the season.
“That is when there is set to be significant movement in head coaches across Europe involving a number of top clubs and big names.”
Palace are in a fortunate but rare position of knowing they will need to hire a new manager come the end of the season.
It allows them to begin preparations earlier in the season than most but with the likes of Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva out of contract this summer and managerial shifts possible at a number of clubs around Europe come May, that advantage may not have a material difference.
Oliver Glasner will depart Crystal Palace this summer. Image Credit: ReutersMarcelino of Villarreal emerged as the No.1 candidate to replace Glasner according to Bet365 last week.
According to BetVictor though, Robbie Keane is the favourite, while former Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has long been considered the perfect replacement for Glasner.
Other managers such as Sean Dyche, Sir Gareth Southgate and Ange Postecoglou are all available and are among the favourites according to BetVictor, while Coventry’s Frank Lampard is also among the frontrunners.
Who does get it remains anyone’s guess, but one thing is for sure, the Crystal Palace managerial saga looks set to be one that lasts all summer.