Crystal Palace could step up their interest in former Tottenham Hotspur target Paulo Fonseca after Lucien Favre got cold feet about managing in the Premier League, as reported by 90Min.
When the news broke last week that Fonseca would not be taking the Spurs job after all – with talks breaking down after days of negotiations – it seemed an opportunity to prove his worth in England had passed the former Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk coach by.
But perhaps not.
Because it is not just Spurs scrambling around for a new head coach with pre-season training looming large.
After being jilted at the alter by Favre, Crystal Palace have gone back to the drawing board and could now shift their attention to a man who was linked fleetingly with the Selhurst Park post back in April, when Roy Hodgson was still in situ.
According to 90Min, however, Palace are in danger of running head-first into yet another brick wall.
Fonseca is in talks to replace Gennaro Gattuso at Fiorentina instead. And, even if Palace do decide to make an approach of their own, they may be too late.
At this stage, many in South London would be forgiven for wishing Hodgson had stayed on for another year.
Finding a replacement is proving to be a challenge akin to locating a needle in a haystack the size of Texas.
Chairman Steve Parish would prefer a manager capable of bringing excitement to the terraces and Fonseca would certainly do that.
His Roma side flattered to deceive at times – finishing a disappointing seventh in the Serie A table last term – but, at their best, they were one of the most free-flowing, attacking sides in the Italian top flight.
Fonseca has also lifted nine trophies in his managerial career, including three successive Ukrainian titles at Shakhtar.
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