29th May 2024 • Written by Riley Moquin

Why Dougie Freedman remaining at Palace could be most significant act of busy summer

Photo: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images

One of Palace’s first big question marks of a potentially anxiety-inducing summer has been given its answer, as sporting director Dougie Freedman – reported in previous weeks as close to a deal to depart South London – has opted to reject Newcastle United and sign a new deal at Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace’s top priority this summer must be keeping its current group together. Such is the mantra broadcast from writers, pundits, media, and even suggested by members of the club itself. After an otherworldly final stretch of the season under Oliver Glasner, Palace went from relegation candidates to one of the hottest squads in the Premier League, and as such found everyone from its star talents to its backroom staff in high demand.

Long critiqued by fans for a perceived lack of ambition, the Palace hierarchy first took swift action to snuff out Bayern Munich’s interest in Glasner, throwing a comedically high Є100 million price tag on the manager as a “go away” message. 

Now Freedman’s new contract, which is said to include a pay raise, is a second hint that chairman Steve Parish and company are setting their sights high for this summer and the upcoming season.

Freedman’s body of work is impressive 

Freedman is arguably one of the best sporting directors the Premier League has to offer. Acting as Palace’s director of football since 2017, Freedman has led the way for the club’s player recruitment, scouting and contract negotiations - with incredible success. 

Palace’s current squad is more or less entirely of his own construction, and some of its biggest talents were targets directly of his own choosing. Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, and Adam Wharton – three talents on their way to England training for the Euros this summer – all were signings spearheaded by Freedman, as were fellow first-team stars Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen.

Photo: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

In particular, Dougie Freedman is known to have an eye for standout young talent in the EFL Championship, where he found Eze, Olise and Wharton.

 The sporting director’s knack for finding diamonds in the rough abroad, though, often goes underrated. Few examples ring as loudly as January window acquisition Daniel Muñoz, who was signed for just €8 million from KRC Genk. Muñoz immediately fit into Palace’s starting XI, silencing any initial hesitancy about his arrival. 

Following Glasner’s appointment just weeks later, Muñoz seamlessly transitioned into a wing-back role that has since made him one of the key pieces of Palace’s new ‘Glasnerball’ system. The Muñoz signing thus proved to not only be successful and cost-effective, but also proactive.

Photo: Henry Browne/Getty Images

Successful summer is paramount for Palace to build 

With Glasner and Freedman now secured in South London for the immediate future, the pair turn their eyes ahead to a daunting summer – perhaps the most critical since Freedman was first hired as sporting director. 

Many of those same signings he brought to Palace will have enticing offers from elsewhere, and it will be up to Freedman to either sell high or keep those talents at the club for another season. Many have suggested Guehi to be the most likely departure, if nothing else to raise funds for improvements and depth, but the truth is any number of Palace stars could be on the move over the upcoming months. 

Regardless of the player-by-player outcomes, it is Freedman’s job to build the best possible squad no matter who departs. Things appear to have started well in that department, with reports suggesting a verbal agreement has already been reached to sign centre-back Chadi Riad from Real Betis.

Still, the futures of Eze and Olise will be in the balance all summer. Both have release clauses, albeit with complicated stipulations. Freedman will almost surely aim to keep at least one of the pair at the club, but even if that is not possible Palace will be absorbing enough funds from the sales to bring in replacements. 

While the task of replacing either player (or both) is a tall one, Freedman’s track record bodes well for the club’s chances. 

Freedman’s rejection of Newcastle United – a club with high aspirations and a willingness to spend big as a result – also bodes well for the vision and ambition at Crystal Palace in the present moment. The Eagles are riding the crest of a wave at the moment, with the exciting Glasner era having well and truly begun. A pay raise to keep the club’s elite sporting director at home hints at a busy summer in South London.

0 comments