Premier League CEO responds as Jim Ratcliffe targets transfer chief for Man Utd
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish insists there have been no conversations between his club and Manchester United over the future of sporting director Dougie Freedman.
Freedman, 49, has been targeted by would-be United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who's set to overhaul the Red Devils' football department once he completes a £1.3billion deal to purchase a 25 per cent stake in the club through his petrochemicals company, INEOS. Former Palace, Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest manager Freedman has become one of the Premier League's most highly regarded sporting directors, having overseen signed exciting talents such as Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi.
But Palace chief Parish has poured cold water on the speculation which he admits is "flattering" for the Eagles. When appearing on the Rest is Football podcast, the 58-year-old was asked about the reports by Gary Lineker, to which he replied: "You'd have to get inside the minds of those people, wouldn't you?
"There's certainly, I don't think, been any conversations, but it's very flattering for the club. Totally [clubs get used to interest]. You guys live in the world where 50 per cent of the stories told in the media are true and 50 per cent aren't, it's just that we don't know which ones."
Parish then lauded Freedman's work at Selhurst Park, saying: "He's been really important for us. If you're going to do this, you've got to do it with people that you like to start with as there's so much pressure sometimes. He's a brilliant guy. He was the second manager I had at the club and he was instrumental in us getting promoted.
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"If you want to watch the Amazon documentary, you will see the whole story about that. He's been instrumental. He got us promoted and he's got a real affinity to the club. Dougie works really hard and we've signed some really good players.
"Most importantly, with the transfer window, which is probably the hardest part of the job, it's fun being involved in that and doing all that with him. The fact he's being linked to clubs like that shows we're doing the right thing."
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Former Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman is being eyed by Manchester United (Stephen Pond)Freedman isn't the only candidate on Ratcliffe's list, though, as former Southampton and Tottenham chief Paul Mitchell stands as one of the frontrunners after leaving Monaco earlier this year. He's joined by Atletico Madrid's Andrea Berta, ex-AC Milan pair Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara, and Atalanta's Lee Congerton.
INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford is also expected to play a key role in the changing of the guard, with Ratcliffe hoping to eventually complete a full takeover and end the Glazer family's stronghold over United. An announcement confirming his initial purchase could come as early as next week. On Wednesday, Red Devils CEO Richard Arnold stepped down from his role in a sign that change at Old Trafford is near.
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