Looking to replace the well-respected Dougie Freedman, who's set to swap Selhurst Park for Saudi Arabia, Crystal Palace have reportedly joined the race to sign a highly respected Arsenal figure.
Crystal Palace eyeing Freedman replacement
Losing Freedman is undoubtedly a major blow. The sporting director played a large part in sustaining Crystal Palace's Premier League place and often without needing to spend big - signing the likes of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise in bargain deals. Replacing that is going to be even more difficult than losing him, but it's something that those in South London must do nonetheless.
Speaking about Freedman's departure, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish said: "Dougie has been instrumental in everything we have done over the past eight years and indeed had a huge impact before that as manager and, of course, as a player.
"I have enjoyed working with him immensely and wish him every success for the future. Dougie leaves behind an excellent and well-structured sporting department that I’m sure will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Now in search of replacing his sporting director, Parish has seemingly turned his attention towards a London rival. According to The Boot Room, Crystal Palace have now joined the race to sign Jason Ayto from Arsenal, who was acting as their interim sporting director following Edu Gaspar's exit before Andrea Berta's arrival.
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Set to lose his role as sporting director once Berta is ready to go, Ayto has a decision to make this summer. Whilst Arsenal are desperate to keep hold of him and are reportedly considering offering the 40-year-old a promotion to work alongside the new sporting director, Ayto could yet take his talents elsewhere.
"Phenomenal" Ayto is Arsenal's secret weapon
As much as both Edu and Mikel Arteta received high praise for their work across Arsenal's rise back into the Premier League's title race, the latter took the time to praise Ayto's underrated role in the Gunners' rebuild last November.
Speaking to reporters, the Spaniard said, as relayed by The Boot Room: "Edu and I probably got a lot of the praise, but the work behind it is done by this guy and Jason has been phenomenal. It is not easy to wake up one day and have to move to a different office and do a different job, like it was for the team.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after the match
"But again, the spirit, how people react, how they are willing to [say]: ‘Okay, that’s it, that’s the situation, let’s move forward’, with that ambition, and as well with that determination and that enthusiasm, that’s something great. Jason has been great on that.”
Amid such praise, it came as little surprise that Ayto was handed the chance to take up the sporting director role on an interim basis. Now that he has a taste for such a position, however, it will be interesting to see whether the likes of Crystal Palace are able to lure him away from The Emirates this summer.