Burnley boss Vincent Kompany is ‘not an option’ to replace Patrick Vieira at Crystal Palace but Michael Carrick may soon be on his way back to the Premier League, Darren Bent tells talkSPORT (14 March, 5pm).
Now, how late is too late to make a change in the dugout? Both Leeds United and Southampton took the punt a couple of months ago. And they have been rewarded with some slightly improved displays and some potentially invaluable results.
But with Vieira under serious pressure at Selhurst Park, per talkSPORT, any potential replacement would have only 11 games to save Palace from the dreaded drop. What’s more, as Leeds and Southampton discovered, finding a coach willing to walk away from his current club in favour of a relegation battle is easier said than done.
Kompany, Bent says, is not going to turn his back on Burnley at this stage. A Clarets side who, 17 points clear of third place, are a Premier League team in all-but name.
“Kompany is not an option because Burnley are getting promoted,” Bent says. “When you look at Kompany, I just think he is so loyal. He would want to give it a go at Burnley.”
Who could replace Patrick Vieira as Crystal Palace manager?
The former England striker believes that there are plenty of other young, up-and-coming tacticians from the EFL bound to attract top-flight interest sooner rather than later. Carrick, for instance, has been a revelation in his first ever managerial role; winning 15 out of 21 games while transforming Middlesbrough from relegation candidates into promotion fighters.
“If Middlesbrough don’t go up there is an option there (to try and take Carrick),” Bent adds. “I think Rob Edwards at Luton Town is another one. When you look at his and Carrick’s record, they are similar but Carrick is getting all the headlines.
“I think, if Middlesbrough don’t go up, he is going to have Premier League clubs interested in him.”
Carrick, The Mirror say, is a potential candidate to replace David Moyes at West Ham United. Bent, however, believes that another of the 41-year-old’s former clubs would be a challenge too steep for a man of his relative inexperience in the dugout.
“I think the Tottenham job is too big, Bent adds. “But you can’t turn it down. I think he will be in the Premier League regardless (of whether Middlesbrough go up).”
Antonio Conte’s contract expires in July. Spurs are reportedly lining up potential replacements already.
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