Manager ‘very attracted’ to Crystal Palace as Parish makes lucrative contract offer

Crystal Palace and chairman Steve Parish have made one manager a lucrative offer to join them, and his response is very positive, according to reports.

Palace are heading into the final stretch of one of the most memorable seasons in their history, and Sunday’s home clash against Everton arrives just three days after they sealed a place in the Europa Conference League final.

Oliver Glasner’s side beat Shakhtar Donetsk 5-2 on aggregate — 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Thursday — to book a trip to the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, where Rayo Vallecano will be their opponents.

It is the first European final in the club’s existence, and it has understandably sent expectations at SE25 soaring.

The immediate challenge, however, is rather more routine.

Palace sit 15th in the Premier League, seven points above the relegation zone with three games remaining, and while the maths confirm their safety is close to being confirmed, a win on Sunday would effectively seal it and allow Glasner to focus entirely on Leipzig.

Glasner has suggested he could rotate heavily, with the Conference League final the priority.

The Austrian name-checked Adam Wharton, Ismaila Sarr, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Tyrick Mitchell and Yeremy Pino as players likely to be rested, meaning a significantly changed side will take the field against Everton.

Jörgen Strand Larsen is expected to lead the line, with Brennan Johnson and Justin Devenny offering support in attack, while Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes are likely options in midfield.

Eddie Nketiah, Borna Sosa and Evan Guessand remain sidelined.

Everton arrive having conceded a result-altering goal in the 90th minute or later in each of their last three matches — the first club in Premier League history to do so in three consecutive games, a record that Moyes will desperately want to end.

Their European hopes are fading fast — they have one win in their last six, and a rotated Palace side at a tired Selhurst Park represents perhaps their best remaining opportunity to collect the points they need.

Everton have won each of their last three meetings with Palace by a 2-1 scoreline, and their historic head-to-head record at Selhurst gives Moyes reason for quiet optimism.

Off the pitch, a development that has been building across the week has now taken a decisive turn.

Andoni Iraola ‘very attracted’ to Crystal Palace after lucrative offer

According to Marca journalist Matteo Moretto, one of the most reliable voices on Spanish football’s transfer landscape, top Palace manager target Andoni Iraola is very attracted to Crystal Palace’s project.

According to Moretto, the financial offer Palace have put on the table is considerable, and the Basque coach now seems very willing to accept it.

The report reinforces what BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel revealed earlier this week — that preliminary talks had already taken place and Iraola was not ruling out joining the Eagles.

The managerial landscape around him has also simplified considerably.

Edin Terzic’s move to Athletic Club Bilbao has closed one potential route, Chelsea’s instability appears to have done little to attract him, and Eddie Howe’s expected continuation at Newcastle has removed another realistic option.

Palace’s Conference League final appearance, a club infrastructure that has grown steadily over the past three years, and a clear footballing identity all appear to have resonated with the coach — alongside a big money offer.

Glasner signs off on his extraordinary tenure at the end of this month, and by then, his successor may already be all but confirmed.