Manager planned to sign £20m ace for Crystal Palace before Hodgson got job

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Adi Hutter had planned to reunite with his former Eintracht Frankfurt star Djibril Sow if he’d taken over Premier League outfit Crystal Palace this summer. 

Whether Crystal Palace will live to regret handing Roy Hodgson another stab at the Selhurst Park job the 75-year-old signing on until the end of next season – remains to be seen. 

It is only two years, after all, since Palace moved on from the former England boss, feeling that the time was right for a fresh start and an influx of new ideas. Hodgson’s return – even after an excellent temporary spell at the end of 2023/24 – certainly doesn’t smack of ambition or long-term planning. 

Especially when the likes of Paulo Fonseca and Adi Hutter promised to bring an exciting new era in South London; Palace initially setting their sights on a number of coaches renowned for their modern, high-octane style of football. 

Hutter guided Einctracht Frankfurt to the semi-finals of the Europa League, and spoke openly about his desire to coach in the Premier League. 

Adi Hutter misses out on Crystal Palace job

According to the Frankfurter Rundschau, Hutter had even identified his first big signing at Selhurst Park. The £20 million Switzerland international Djibril Sow was a key cog in Hutter’s Frankfurt machine. Like his former Commerzbank Arena boss, the 26-year-old enforcer would have brought style and energy to a side who have often been accused of lacking either. 

“He is a fast, box-to-box player,” Hutter said of Sow, who also won a pair of Swiss Super Lig titles under the Austrian tactician at BSC Young Boys. 

Time will tell if Hutter comes calling for Sow again, as he finally finds employment at Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco.

Les Monegasques sacked Philippe Clement after finishing outside of the European places last term. Hutter now takes Clement’s place on the Monaco bench. 

Palace, at least, have succeeded in bringing in a Djibril Sow alternative without spending a single penny in transfer fees. Jefferson Lerma, Bournemouth’s 2023 Player of the Year, already looks like one of the new season’s most inspired signings on a free transfer.