A certain Premier League club currently eye a move to appoint Barnsley manager Valerien Ismael following an impressive spell in charge.
With Roy Hodgson’s contract ends this summer, the Telegraph report that Crystal Palace are tempted to move on and find another manager.
Formerly of LASK Linz, Ismael has won more than 62% of his games at Barnsley, turning them from relegation candidates to play-off contenders against all odds.
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The 45 year old Frenchman has earned huge praise for his work at Oakwell, and it’s no surprise that Palace have noticed how well he has quickly adapted to English football, especially considering how tough it can be for a number of foreign managers trying their hand at it in their coaching career lately.
Ismael joined Crystal Palace as a player from Strasbourg back in 1998, lasting just ten months and playing only 13 appearances before signing for Lens.
Ismael may have struggled at Selhurst Park when in his playing days, but since going into management, he’s excelling as a manager with the Tykes, and could find his way back to his former club.
If Barnsley win promotion to the Premier League however, this could become a very difficult move for Palace to pull off, but right now, he’s a manager bound to be looked at by a number of clubs, especially if they fail to go up.
Ismael joined Barnsley in October 2020, signing a three year contract.
This news comes just days after three others managers were revealed to be on Palace’s shortlist.
Palace seem to have run their course under the 73 year old, currently sitting in 13th place of the Premier League table and look safe for another season.
The South London side want to revamp their squad in the summer with a host of players out of contract and the average age of the squad also needs to be cut.
Roy Hodgson’s deal expires in June and he is yet to be offered an extension.
Eddie Howe is on a three-man Crystal Palace shortlist and is said to have spoken to the club after stalling over Celtic, the ever reliable Football Insider have revealed.
A Palace source tells Football Insider the club’s top three targets are Howe, Frank Lampard and Burnley manager Sean Dyche.
The report adds: “They have sounded out all three about their interest in the post, where Hodgson, has been in charge for the past four years.
“The source explained that Howe, 43, and Dyche are the two who figure most prominently in the thoughts of Palace chiefs, with Lampard currently third choice.
“This site revealed last week that Palace have already made contact with Burnley boss Sean Dyche and spoke to him in January, while we explained last Friday (April 9th) that Howe had also held talks with the club.
“Celtic still hold out hopes of appointing Howe although their chances of doing so have diminished considerably over the last week.
“The ex-Bournemouth boss reached a verbal agreement with Celtic following talks in London before having second thoughts.
“The Scottish giants are assessing alternative options to Howe amid fears he is using their interest as leverage with Premier League sides.
“The 43-year-old accepted the Hoops’ “wonderful” offer presented a fortnight ago before it emerged via Sky Sports he does not plan to return to management until the summer at the earliest.
“Bu that point, Celtic had already made contact with former Borussia Dortmund manager Lucien Favre.”
Fans reacted after seeing that the Premier League club have an eye on a move to appoint the Barnsley manager…
@Stevenwinder333: Not surprised at all.
@tnrcbMO8AYaHaFI: i mean look at what hes doing with Barnsley. It makes sense plus i think its a good time for Roy to go, Palace might do a slight squad overhaul this summer too since loads of contracts are expiring
@Twentyfour7Sanj: My money is on this
@The_Vman_v2: Quality gaffer, premier bound with or without us
@William95800686: Please no
@AlexRed00561762: Go away, he’s mine, lock him somewhere in tarn if we have to
@gidleymike: Quite like the idea, but we will need a team of young 20 somethings, to run and press as he advocates.
@alex_westry: If Palace do want Ismael then we need Barnsley to lose in the Championship playoffs.
@erictwigs: My number one target. If he can get that sort of production out of Dike he can get it out of Benteke/ Mateta.
@cam_cpfc: YASSSSSSSSSSSSSS
@cam_cpfc: Ismael to take us forward yltsi
@cpfc_fpage_se25: Screaming without the s right now
@alex_westry: This would be a fantastic hire by Palace and Valerien Ismael is a former Crystal Palace player! What he’s done at Barnsley is incredible and very impressive.
@CraigNewm22: Would be a massive gamble but has done wonders at Barnsley in his short time there. Too soon for him though in my opinion
@bryter_skies: Him over howe all day even if hes had no pl experience
I’d be more than happy with this outcome pic.twitter.com/exU537WdFM
— No Context Humour 🅙 (@NoContextHumour) April 13, 2021
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