Dougie Freedman looks set to stay as Crystal Palace’s sporting director after turning down an approach from Newcastle and agreeing a new contract.
The former Scotland striker held talks with Newcastle officials this month about potentially succeeding Dan Ashworth, who remains on gardening leave before an expected move to become Manchester United’s sporting director. The Palace chairman, Steve Parish, was said by club sources to be “doing everything he can” to help persuade Freedman to stay given his impressive recruitment since becoming sporting director in 2019, which includes scouting Marc Guéhi, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton, who were named in England’s training squad for Euro 2024 this week.