Sources: Major update on Steve Cooper and Crystal Palace after win over Brentford
Ex-Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper is seen as a ready-made replacement for Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace, sources have told Football Insider.
It is believed club chiefs have earmarked the 44-year-old Welshman as a top contender for the job – should it become available.
Football Insider revealed on Monday (1 January) that Hodgson will “100% leave” Crystal Palace at the end of the season but there is currently no rush at board level to make a managerial change.
Nevertheless, the Croydon outfit are continuing to sound out a potential new boss – with talks taking place with both Cooper and ex-Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui.
76-year-old Hodgson eased pressure on his position after leading Palace to a crucial 3-1 win over Brentford on Saturday (30 December).
Palace now have a buffer of six points to the Premier League relegation zone and it is believed there is no real panic over Hodgson‘s position, which he took following the sacking of Patrick Vieira late in the 2022-23 campaign.
Lopetegui, once of Real Madrid, left Wolves on the eve of the 2023-24 campaign after a summer fire sale which saw the Midlands club lose several key men.
He took charge in November 2022 with the Molineux side sat bottom, but turned their fortunes around to achieve a 13th-place finish.
Meanwhile, Cooper was sacked by Nottingham Forest last month after losing five of their last six games.
Hodgson is in his second spell at Selhurst Park but his contract is set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Their next top-flight game comes against Arsenal on 20 January, more than two weeks after they clash with Everton in the FA Cup on Thursday (4 January).
In other news, Crystal Palace striker signing plan revealed.