AliousAccording to sources cited by Football Insider, Tim Steidten is the leading candidate to take over as Crystal Palace’s next sporting director.
Oliver Glasner, the current manager, has approved the appointment of the German to succeed Dougie Freedman, who recently departed Selhurst Park for an international position.
Steidten’s latest stint was with West Ham, where he was sacked after Graham Potter took charge, with Potter bringing in his longtime associate Kyle Macauley as Steidten’s replacement.
Steidten earned widespread praise for his tenure at Bayer Leverkusen, playing a key role in securing talents like Jeremie Frimpong and Moussa Diaby.
Earlier, at Werder Bremen, he showcased his ability to operate effectively under financial constraints by arranging loan moves for high-profile players such as Serge Gnabry from Arsenal and Kevin de Bruyne from Manchester City.
However, his time at West Ham was marred by a highly publicized dispute with then-manager David Moyes, which culminated in Moyes barring him from the training ground.
Freedman, meanwhile, leaves behind a strong legacy at Crystal Palace, having overseen the acquisitions of standout players like Adam Wharton, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, and Michael Olise.
His recruitment success is underscored by interest from top clubs, with Manchester City eyeing Wharton and Liverpool targeting Guehi this summer.
His exit has sparked concern at Palace, especially with a potentially pivotal transfer window looming for Glasner.
Adding a layer of caution, former West Ham scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Steidten’s rocky relationships with managers David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui contributed to their respective exits from the club.
Glasner, too, has a history of friction, having parted ways with Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt after disagreements with their sporting directors over transfer strategies and club vision.
Glasner’s own future at Palace has been under scrutiny lately, as his contract will enter its final year this summer.
On March 18, Brown informed Football Insider that the club is eager to secure Glasner with a new deal and has already initiated discussions. Since succeeding Roy Hodgson 13 months ago, Glasner has made a notable impact, and despite a sluggish start to the current campaign, Palace sit just six points off a European spot.
The team is also gearing up for an FA Cup quarter-final clash with Fulham.
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