Dougie Freedman rejects Newcastle offer to stay at Crystal Palace – sources
Dougie Freedman has rejected an offer from Newcastle to replace Dan Ashworth as sporting director and will stay at Crystal Palace, sources have told Football Insider.
Football Insider revealed last week (13 May) that official news on the 49-year-old joining Newcastle would come soon after the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
And Freedman, who impressed the Tyneside club with his work at Crystal Palace, has now chosen to remain at Selhurst Park.
The Scot, who took the Palace sporting director job in 2017, was high on the shortlist at Newcastle due to his ability to buy and develop top young talent.
Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen and Cheick Doucoure are among the high-profile stars to arrive at the Croydon club during his reign.
Freedman rejects Newcastle as search for Ashworth successor continues
Freedman has also been linked with a potential move to Man United under the new Sir Jim Ratcliffe regime at Old Trafford.
It is believed he also played a key role in the appointment of Oliver Glasner, who transformed Palace’s form after succeeding Roy Hodgson in February and led them to their highest-ever Premier League finish (10th).
Freedman turned out for Palace as a player, making 237 appearances and scoring 64 goals between 2000 and 2008.
Newcastle will continue the search for a new sporting director after putting Ashworth on gardening leave in February.
He had agreed terms with Man United as they rebuild their transfer team ahead of the summer window.
In other news, Newcastle to hold crunch Alexander Isak talks.
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