Crystal Palace 'reach agreement' with new manager immediately after Conference League win

Crystal Palace have reportedly reached an agreement with a top-class manager to replace Oliver Glasner just hours after winning the Conference League.

On Wednesday (May 27), Jean-Philippe Mateta’s strike ensured the Eagles secured their second trophy in two seasons as they beat La Liga side Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.

The fixture marked Glasner’s final game as head coach, with the Austrian already confirming he will leave this summer.

Several coaches have been linked with succeeding Glasner at Selhurst Park, with former Brentford and Spurs boss Thomas Frank among the contenders. Coventry head coach Frank Lampard has also been linked with the role.

And while the celebrations will no doubt continue for some time yet, Palace’s board — particularly co-owner and chairman Steve Parish — are already planning for the future, with the Eagles set to compete in the Europa League next season.

Palace 'agree deal' for Glasner's successor

Adding fresh faces to the squad will be essential ahead of what promises to be a hectic fixture schedule next term, but first Palace must appoint Glasner’s successor — and the question remains: who will it be?

According to reports from Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has effectively rejected the opportunity to become AC Milan manager in favour of taking charge at Selhurst Park.

The outlet reports: “Iraola has been pursued by other clubs in recent weeks. Leverkusen in Germany. Benfica in Portugal. Crystal Palace in the Premier League. The latter has immediately become AC Milan’s biggest rival.”

Iraola is reportedly unconvinced by Milan’s project, while remaining in the Premier League appeals to him because his family are settled in England.

Other reports claim Palace would hand Iraola three times more money to spend than Milan this summer.

According to SPORT, Palace have made a multi-million-pound offer for the Basque coach after making initial contact with an agreement seemingly imminent.

At Bournemouth, Iraola boasts a record of 48 wins, 38 draws and 41 losses in his 127 matches in charge of the Cherries, with the 43-year-old guiding the side to a record-high sixth-place finish and, in doing so, qualifying for the Europa League this term.

Speaking after last night’s triumph, co-owner Parish described Palace’s achievement as “incredible” but did not offer any insight into who could replace Glasner.

“Even to be in Europe, it’s so good, travelling around,” he told TNT Sports. “Then to come and win it is just incredible. All the ups and downs we’ve had this season, it’s just brilliant to get to this point. Reaching the Europa League, where we deserve to be in the end, just shows you that sometimes the good guys win.

“To win an FA Cup, a Community Shield and a European title at the first time of asking is an incredible achievement. It means everything. When I bought the club, I wasn’t sure we’d ever play in Europe, let alone win a trophy. It’s all of our dreams come true. Now we’ve had a taste of it, we want to keep it going.

“We have gone up a level, and we have to try and stay there. It’s not easy. Everybody wants to win. We have our work cut out in the summer, but right now we’ll take a week and enjoy it.”