Freedman to leave Palace and considering Saudi role
Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman will leave the club this summer and is considering taking up a position in Saudi Arabia.
Freedman, 50, has been with Palace as a player, manager, and in his current role since 2017.
He was responsible for the recruitment of players including Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton and Dean Henderson.
Sources close to the situation claim Freedman has been offered the position of head of sport with the Diriyah Company, which owns Al-Diriyah, who play in the Saudi second division.
The role is believed to be a multi-discipline one in which he would shape the performance philosophy of up to seven other sports under the Diriyah Company umbrella.
There is no confirmation whether Freedman has formally accepted the position.
The former Scotland striker has been aware of the interest from Saudi Arabia for at least a month, but the move accelerated over the past week. He is expected to continue on a consultancy basis with Palace over the summer before leaving.
He twice had conversations with Manchester United and held talks with Newcastle last season.
Iain Moody, who works closely with Palace's recruitment operation on a consultancy basis, will undertake a more prominent position at the club, but as things stand will not directly replace Freedman.
Palace chairman Steve Parish said Freedman had been "instrumental in everything we have done over the past eight years".
Freedman added: "To be leaving the club with a squad full of exciting talent led by an excellent manager, I truly believe the foundations are in place to be built upon."
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