Football FanCast

Tottenham are set to be boosted by an early return from injury for midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, while James Maddison is also racing to be fit before the end of the season.

Tottenham injury list easing ahead of domestic return

Roberto De Zerbi is sweating on a number of first-team players ahead of his first test in charge of Tottenham.

The trip to the Stadium of Light will come too soon for Mohammed Kudus, who suffered a serious muscle injury in January.

"So we have this big three weeks after the game on Sunday. He will probably do some part of the things with the squad maybe 10 days (after the break)," Igor Tudor said before his departure.

"I don’t know I’m not sure. We need to check but he is progressing very well. Already a little bit with the ball."

Both Kudus and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario could return next week for the home fixture against Brighton, while Mathys Tel should be able to feature at Sunderland.

Tudor also provided a positive update on James Maddison, with the England international sharing videos on social media working outside with a ball and expected to play some part in the run-in.

There's more good news on Bentancur, who required surgery on a hamstring problem and missed Tudor's entire reign.

Bentancur at least two weeks ahead of schedule

According to Football.London, Bentancur 'has already returned to working on the grass' and taken part in some training sessions.

The Uruguay international is 'around 15 days' beyond his original timeline, claims his personal fitness coach, and hopes to play some minutes before the end of April.

This is a huge boost for De Zerbi, with Alasdair Gold recently claiming the new manager will love the tough-tackling midfielder.

"I've got a funny feeling that he's gonna like Rodrigo Bentancur as well.

"And I know again he's a player that's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think in terms of tactical and possession based football, yes he can be a little bit iffy with his passing sometimes, but actually, as someone that was used to being in the hub of that Juventus team, the three-time Serie A title winners, I think he could fit in quite well." - Click for full story

Bentancur currently earns £75,000-a-week in North London, having signed a long-term deal with the club back in October.

The 28 year-old featured regularly in the Premier League this season before his injury.

De Zerbi has typically deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation at Marseille and Brighton, a system which would lend itself to partnering Bentancur with a more technical midfielder in the deep-lying roles.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has arrived in North London with the short-term goal of helping the club to avoid the relegation zone.

The Italian boss has taken over with the club in 17th place in the Premier League, one point above the bottom three, with seven matches left to play before the end of the season.

Spurs take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in De Zerbi's first competitive game in charge in the top-flight on Sunday, and a win could go a long way towards avoiding the drop.

Igor Tudor's replacement arrives with experience of managing in the Premier League, thanks to his time at Brighton & Hove Albion, so he already knows what it takes to win a game at this level.

However, De Zerbi has joined in the midst of a disastrous season for the Lilywhites, who won the Europa League last year, and he has several problems that need to be solved in the short-term.

How Spurs have ended up in a relegation battle

Spurs have ended up in a relegation battle because of a series of poor decisions with the coaching and playing staff in recent seasons in North London.

Sacking Ange Postecoglou, an idealist with a clear style of play, and appointing Thomas Frank, a pragmatist who relied on physicality and set plays, went as poorly as expected from the outside looking in.

The players also have to take responsibility for the problems on the pitch, though, as the defence has not been good enough under any manager this season. Only the teams in the bottom three have conceded more Premier League goals than Spurs (50) so far.

Players like Pedro Porro, for example, have struggled defensively. He has averaged 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game, which is down from 3.1 per match last term, whilst he is also being dribbled past 0.3 times more per game (1.3) than last season (1.0).

The Spanish full-back is not the only Spurs defender who has regressed, causing the club to fall into a relegation battle, though, as there is another flop who should be sold by De Zerbi this summer.

The Spurs flop who is becoming Porro 2.0

Just as Porro has fallen off on the pitch after a strong start to life in North London after first joining from Sporting for £40m in 2023, there is another player who has let himself and Spurs down this season.

Versatile central defender and left-back Micky van de Ven should be sold in the summer transfer window because of his inconsistent performances at the back for the Lilywhites.

Earlier this year it was reported that Liverpool are among the teams interested in the Dutchman, and that Spurs would demand a fee of £100m for his services.

However, his performances on the pitch so far this season do not suggest that he is a £100m player in the making, because he has made too many defensive mistakes in the Premier League, hence why Tottenham have one of the worst defensive records in the division.

The left-footed centre-back has made three errors that have led to shots, goals, or penalties for the opposition and been sent off once in the league this season. In the 2024/25 campaign, he only made one such error and did not receive a single red card.

Van de Ven ranks among the worst centre-backs in the Premier League in far too many metrics this season, as he has struggled with duels in particular.

He has allowed opposition forwards to get the better of him too many times in physical duels, especially in the air, and that does not suggest that any team should be paying £100m to sign him this summer.

His poor form and unimpressive statistics, though, do suggest that De Zerbi should look to cash in on him in the summer, unless his form drastically improves in the last seven games of the season.

Van de Ven's struggles have played a significant role in the club's defensive struggles and he has become Porro 2.0, as another defender struggling after impressing in the past.

That is why the Lilywhites should look to move on from the Dutchman ahead of the 2026/27 campaign to make space in their squad for a more reliable central defender to be brought in.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi will have plenty of big decisions to make on the playing squad in the summer transfer window, if he guides the team clear of relegation.

One of the players who may find himself in a difficult position in the summer is the club's record signing Dominic Solanke, who joined from Bournemouth for a fee of £65m in the summer of 2024.

Through a mixture of his own performances and injury issues, the England international is yet to justify the incredible fee that was paid for his services almost two years ago.

Solanke has scored three goals in 12 appearances in the Premier League so far this season for the Lilywhites, after a return of nine goals in 27 league games in the 2024/25 campaign.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea talent underperformed in front of goal last term, scoring nine goals from an xG of 10.97 and missing 12 'big chances' in the top-flight.

De Zerbi driving Spurs move for new centre-forward

Solanke has not delivered enough quality or consistency to suggest that he has what it takes to be the go-to man for goals moving forward, which is why his position in the team is under threat ahead of the summer.

If the Europa League champions bring in a new number nine to come in and offer more to the team in front of goal, the English flop may have to assess his future and decide if staying in North London is the best option for his career moving forward.

According to Calcio Mercato, De Zerbi is looking to bring in a new centre-forward to lead the line for his Tottenham Hotspur team in the 2026/27 campaign.

The report claims that the Italian head coach is driving the club's interest in a deal to sign Fiorentina marksman Moise Kean to bolster his options at the top end of the pitch.

It adds that Italian giants Milan are also keen on a move to snap up the Italy international this summer, which means that there will be competition for his signature.

Calcio Mercato reveals that a fee of around £44m could be enough to tempt Fiorentina into cashing in on the former Juventus star, and that Spurs could afford to pay that price for De Zerbi's key striker target.

Why Kean would be a big Solanke upgrade for Spurs

If Tottenham can beat Milan to the signing of Kean in the upcoming summer transfer window, Solanke may find himself on the bench more often than not unless he pursues a move away from North London.

As aforementioned, the £65m signing has not offered much in the way of quality in front of goal during his time with Spurs, failing to hit double figures for goals in the Premier League so far.

A return of 12 league goals in almost two seasons, albeit with one disrupted through injury, is not an impressive return, particularly in comparison to Kean's form for Fiorentina.

Since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, the Italian centre-forward has scored 27 goals in the Serie A, whilst he has scored nine goals in all competitions so far this term.

The 26-year-old star, who should be in the prime years of his career, has scored 34 goals in all competitions for Fiorentina since his move from Juventus in 2024, whilst Solanke has scored 22 goals in the same period.

Last season, Kean significantly outperformed Solanke in front of goal at league level, with both playing in a major European league, as he scored ten more goals in five more appearances.

Comparing their respective form this season is unfair, as the Spurs striker has only played 12 matches, but their output in the 2024/25 campaign suggests that the Italian ace would arrive as a much better option for De Zerbi up front.

Given his goal return in recent seasons, Kean looks like a way better centre-forward than Solanke and could arrive in North London as a terrific goalscorer for the Italian head coach.

That is why the club should push to sign the manager's chosen target ahead of Milan to bolster the club's firepower for the 2026/27 campaign.

Crystal Palace have set their sights on an "absolutely incredible" manager, with Oliver Glasner set to depart at the end of the campaign.

Palace eyeing new managers with Glasner set to move on

Glasner's time at Selhurst Park is coming to an end, and while the Austrian hasn't covered himself in glory at times this season, falling out with the board and hitting out at the fans, he will always be remembered for leading the Eagles to their first-ever major trophy.

Indeed, May 17th 2025 will forever be etched into Palace history, with Glasner overseeing a 1-0 victory against Manchester City in the FA Cup final, and the 51-year-old has the opportunity to go out on a high, with his side through to the Europa Conference League quarter-final.

However, having already announced his intention to move on this summer, Steve Parish has started looking for a replacement, with former Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford boss Thomas Frank recently emerging as the frontrunner.

Frank has been out of work since February, having been dismissed by Spurs, and things have gone from bad to worse since his departure, with the Lilywhites now just one point above the Premier League relegation zone and at serious risk of going down.

After failing to last a full season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, however, the Dane's stock has arguably tanked, and Parish has set his sights on an alternative.

Palace planning move for "absolutely incredible" manager

According to a report from Football Insider, Crystal Palace are planning to explore a move for Coventry City boss Frank Lampard, given that Parish has personally been an admirer of the former Chelsea midfielder for quite some time.

However, Lampard, who prefers to use a 4-3-3 formation, is on course to lead the Sky Blues to the top flight, and he is planning to stay with the Championship league leaders, which means any approach from Palace is likely to be unsuccessful.

Coventry are confident the Englishman will remain at the CBS Arena, which could be a huge boost, given the way he's turned their fortunes around, being lauded for the "absolutely incredible" job he did last season by former Ipswich Town captain Luke Chambers.

Since then, the 47-year-old has gone on to take the Sky Blues to the brink of a long-awaited return to the Premier League, with his side top of the table, having scored a whopping 84 goals in 40 matches.

Although Lampard has been sacked by both Chelsea and Everton previously, his current stint at Coventry suggests he still has a lot left to give in management, so it is somewhat disappointing he will seemingly be unavailable this summer.

West Ham United are prepared to cash-in on one of their most important players for just £26m this summer, and Tottenham Hotspur are in the picture to sign him.

West Ham set to focus on staying up after FA Cup defeat

Despite bagging two goals in stoppage time to force extra-time, West Ham were dumped out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage on Sunday, with Leeds United booking their place at Wembley later this month courtesy of a victory on penalties.

Although the Hammers ultimately came up just short, Nuno was pleased by the fight that was on show, which will serve his side well heading into the crucial final seven games of the Premier League season.

Indeed, while missing out on a FA Cup semi-final is very disappointing, the Irons can now, at the very least, fully focus on preserving their Premier League status, with Nuno's side currently one point away from safety.

However, given that there haven't been many positives to take from the campaign, the manager may want to reshape his squad in the summer, and one of the 52-year-old's key players could be sold.

West Ham prepared to offload "fantastic" player

According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), West Ham are willing to cash-in on Crysencio Summerville for the low fee of just €30m (£26m) in the summer, amid widespread interest in the winger.

Aston Villa, Brentford, AFC Bournemouth, Everton and Tottenham are eyeing moves for the Dutchman, while Marseille, Napoli, Atalanta and Villarreal headline the interest from abroad.

Lauded as "fantastic" by former Leeds man Carlton Palmer, the 24-year-old has been one of few bright sparks for the Hammers, in an otherwise disappointing campaign, picking up seven goals and four assists in 27 matches across all competitions.

West Ham had to make do without the forward against Leeds, which was frustrating, given that he could've been a difference-maker, having received plaudits after impressing against Burton Albion earlier in the competition.

Nuno said: "He’s doing a good job. He’s in a good moment. Forward players need this confidence, and he has that one-v-one [ability]. When he can use it in [these kinds of] spaces, he’s almost unstoppable."

Tottenham Hotspur have entered the race to sign an "incredible" star, with new manager Roberto De Zerbi personally keen.

Spurs already eyeing new signings for De Zerbi

It was a risk for De Zerbi to join Tottenham at this stage of the season, with his new club hovering just above the Premier League relegation zone, but having signed a five-year deal, the Italian has already stated he is in it for the long haul.

The Spurs boss set the record straight on whether he would leave if his side are unable to avoid the drop, saying: "I signed five years of contract because, for me, it's a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what."

In light of the international break, the 46-year-old has had some time to get used to his new surroundings, before travelling to Sunderland on Sunday, in what will be the first of seven crucial games.

De Zerbi's number one priority will be to steer the Lilywhites clear of the bottom three, but targets have already been identified for the summer, including AFC Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi and Werder Bremen centre-back Karim Coulibaly.

Not only are the north Londoners eager to improve their backline, but they are also keen to bring in a new centre-forward this summer, and they have joined the race to sign a Serie A star.

"Incredible" striker emerges as target for Tottenham

According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), Tottenham are now plotting a move for Fiorentina striker Moise Kean, with De Zerbi personally an admirer of the Italian, who is 'destined to leave' the Serie A side this summer.

The Italian club are set to hold out for €50m (£44m), which Spurs could 'come very close' to paying, but a deal will only be possible if they manage to remain in the Premier League.

Kean, who is represented by the same agent as Dejan Kulusevski, impressed during the recent international break, despite Italy being unable to book their place at the World Cup, receiving plaudits from The Athletic's James Horncastle after scoring against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Horncastle said: "Kean's incredible run continues. He has now scored in six straight games for Italy — it's one that immediately calms some nerves for the travelling Italians."

The 26-year-old has found the net 13 times in 26 appearances for his country, and he has regularly been on the scoresheet since signing for Fiorentina too, bagging 34 goals in 77 outings, while also providing seven assists.

Kean didn't exactly impress during his previous stint in England, only managing to muster up four goals in 39 games for Everton, but the Italy star has shown he could be ready for a second chance in the Premier League.

One of the first tasks that Roberto De Zerbi faces at Tottenham Hotspur is reducing the number of individual mistakes made in each game in the Premier League.

The Lilywhites are 17th in the division and have conceded 50 goals in 31 matches, the fourth most, and they need to improve their defence to give themselves the best chance of avoiding a first ever relegation to the Championship.

De Zerbi joined to take over from Igor Tudor during the international break and will have had plenty of time on the training pitch with his players by the time the clash with Sunderland comes around next weekend.

However, some of the issues at Tottenham cannot be fixed on the training pitch and there will have to be some big decisions made in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Provided Spurs avoid the drop, De Zerbi must be ruthless in the summer and cash in on several underperforming players to go back into the market to improve the squad.

Inter eyeing deal to sign Spurs flop

Tottenham are 17th in the Premier League and facing a potential relegation because too many of their players have not delivered enough quality on the pitch on a regular basis.

There should be consequences for that ahead of the 2026/27 campaign as it should be a wake-up call to the club to make them revamp the playing squad.

However, other teams need to be interested in signing a player for the Lilywhites to cash in on them, and there is reportedly active interest in one of their flops.

According to Calcio Mercato, European giants Inter are keen on a deal to sign Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Italian side want a new number one to take Yann Sommer's place between the sticks next season, and they have identified the Spurs 'keeper as a key target.

It adds that Tottenham are set to demand a fee of up to £17m for the Italy international if any club decides to come in with an offer for his services, and that Inter would be able to afford a deal to sign him.

Calcio Mercato reveals that Inter are ready to accelerate a move to sign the Italian stopper, but it remains to be seen when they will make their first official move.

Why Spurs must cash in on Vicario

The Lilywhites should take advantage of Inter's interest in the goalkeeper because he has become the club's biggest defensive liability since Emerson Royal was in North London.

During his time at Spurs, Emerson struggled for consistency in the Premier League. In the 2023/24 campaign, he was dribbled past 22 times in 11 starts, and he was dribbled past 66 times in three seasons with the club.

Opposition wingers found it far too easy to get the better of him down the flank at Spurs, which made him a defensive liability, and that eventually led to him signing for Milan in the summer of 2024.

Two years on, Vicario could follow in his footsteps by moving to Milan, to join the other San Siro outfit, because of his shaky performances at the back for Tottenham.

The Italian goalkeeper has made four errors that have led to shots or goals for the opposition in the Premier League and Champions League this season, after he made six errors in the top-flight in the 2024/25 campaign.

On top of continually making big errors, Vicario is also the third-worst shot-stopper in the division based on Goals Prevented this season, as he has conceded 5.22 more goals than expected based on the xG of the shots against him.

Last season, the Italy international ranked 16th in the Premier League with 0.59 goals prevented, which shows that his shot-stopping has regressed since the 2024/25 campaign.

Vicario currently looks like the biggest liability in the squad, due to both his errors and his poor shot-stopping, and possibly the biggest defensive liability at Spurs since Emerson left to join Milan.

That is why De Zerbi must make him the first player sold in the summer, amid interest from Inter, to open the door for a new goalkeeper to come in and offer more reliability between the sticks.

Tottenham have held discussions with the representatives of an esteemed Barcelona target, with Roberto De Zerbi and co offered the chance to sign him this summer.

Spurs tipped for busy De Zerbi-led summer if they avoid relegation

There is something almost defiant about the speed with which Tottenham have moved since De Zerbi's appointment was confirmed this week.

A club that has spent the season in varying states of disarray — three managers, a points tally that has lurched them to within a single point of the relegation zone, home fans whose frustration has long since curdled into something darker — is suddenly alive with purpose again.

Not because the underlying problems have been solved, they manifestly have not.

But because De Zerbi, the Italian who was allegedly sporting director Johan Lange's number one target from the moment the summer was first discussed, carries with him the kind of credibility that cuts through the noise and creates space for optimism even amid crisis.

The lucrative five-year contract, which has made him one of England's highest-paid managers, is deliberate. This is not a gaffer hired to hold the line.

It is one hired to build something — and he has been granted the power to shape that build more directly than Spurs managers typically have, with a greater say in transfer decisions than the standard head coach arrangement would allow.

The immediate task, of course, is survival.

His first game arrives on April 12 when Spurs travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland. Seven games remain, and one point separates the club from the drop.

However, even as that existential battle unfolds, the work for next season has already begun.

Manuel Locatelli — the Juventus captain and Italian international whom De Zerbi worked with at Sassuolo a decade ago — is understood to be his first personal transfer target.

The appointment also appears to have reactivated the pursuit of Bart Verbruggen, the 23-year-old Brighton goalkeeper who was a standout performer under De Zerbi at the Amex.

Spurs reportedly want him as the long-term replacement for Guglielmo Vicario, who is understood to have given the green light to a move to Inter Milan, though the chase for Verbruggen will not be straightforward.

Underpinning those potential additions, however, is a more pressing structural need.

Both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are could leave Spurs this summer, opening a significant hole at the heart of a defence that has struggled for coherence all season.

That reality makes what TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey revealed this week all the more relevant.

Tottenham hold talks with Marcos Senesi's agents over free transfer

As per his information, Marcos Senesi's representatives have approached Tottenham, among others, about a potential Bosman move for the Bournemouth centre-back this summer.

The Argentine has already informed Bournemouth that he will not be extending his stay at the Vitality Stadium, placing him in the free transfer market at a moment when Spurs' defensive rebuild desperately needs affordable, experienced solutions.

Left-footed, composed in possession and a consistent performer across 30 league appearances this season — contributing to nine clean sheets in Andoni Iraola's side — Senesi is exactly the kind of technically accomplished defender De Zerbi's system demands.

His primary goal is Barcelona, with whom his agents have held direct talks, and the dream of Camp Nou remains very much alive.

The obstacle there is that the Catalan club have prioritised Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni above all else, and until that pursuit reaches a conclusion, Senesi's situation remains in a state of uncertainty.

Should Bastoni prove unattainable, Senesi becomes Barcelona's immediate alternative — but the wait could be a long one.

For Spurs, the attraction of a 'valuable' centre-back at zero cost, with Premier League quality, at a moment when the defensive cupboard is being substantially cleared out is obvious.

Whether De Zerbi makes Senesi a genuine priority will depend on what unfolds in the coming weeks, but the opening exchange has apparently been made.

After the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham Hotspur, there’s no doubt a newfound sense of hope that the club can maintain their Premier League status.

The Lilywhites have been in a desperate state for many months, with the Italian the man chosen to help lead the side away from the relegation zone in the next seven matches.

Given the small timeframe remaining in the campaign, it’s crucial that the 46-year-old makes an immediate impact after taking the reins in North London.

Given the club’s exit from the FA Cup, he will have an extended period to work closely with the first team players to give them the best chance possible of turning their form around.

However, regardless of the ongoing relegation battle, the new boss will certainly be working closely with the board over the potential plans in place for the summer window.

Spurs burst into race to land £42m star

Spurs have been credited with an interest in landing numerous top talents over the last couple of months, with no deals yet in place before the summer window.

Over the last couple of days, West Ham United star Crysencio Summerville has emerged as a potential target, with his form for the Hammers no doubt catching the eye.

The 24-year-old has netted five times in 24 league appearances so far this term, with such a record playing a key role in their hunt to secure their own top-flight status.

However, Summerville isn’t the only player who’s currently in their sights at present, with 18-year-old centre-back Karim Coulibaly another name admired by staff behind the scenes.

According to Football FanCast sources, the Lilywhites have emerged as key contenders to land the Werder Bremen star, who’s featured 22 times in the Bundesliga this season.

The report also states that the player could well be keen on a move during the summer, but only if a deal is beneficial for himself and his current employers.

A deal could prove to be an expensive one for De Zerbi’s men during the off-season, with the German side currently demanding as much as €50m (£42m) for the youngster.

Why Coulibaly would be De Zerbi’s next Caicedo

During his managerial career to date, Spurs boss De Zerbi has become known for his ability to develop young talents - as seen with Moises Caicedo during his time at Brighton.

The Ecuadorian international arrived as an unknown teenager to many back in 2021, with the Italian handing the 24-year-old his breakthrough season back in 2022/23.

Such a campaign would see the midfielder feature in all but one Premier League match, arguably being one of the manager’s star players as the Seagulls finished sixth.

As a result of his time under the manager, Caicedo would join Chelsea for a staggering £115m in the summer of 2023 - a deal that was an English record at the time.

After his appointment at Spurs, De Zerbi will no doubt be hoping to have a similar impact with the youngsters on the books, or even with the potential arrival of Coulibaly.

Whilst the 18-year-old evidently operates in a slightly different position, he could hugely benefit from the manager’s ability to get the best out of young stars.

A deal could well be an expensive one for the Lilywhites, but it would also allow them to land yet another impressive prospect for the immediate and long-term future.

His stats from the current campaign at Bremen certainly make for interesting reading, with the teenager able to be a huge asset for De Zerbi in North London.

Coulibaly has started 20 times in the Bundesliga this campaign, even netting his first senior goal during the 3-3 draw with Bayer Leverkusen back in August.

He’s gained a reputation for being a competent option in possession, subsequently completing 86% of the passes he’s attempted so far in the 2025/26 season.

The German has also completed 71% of the dribbles he’s attempted, which could make him a perfect option for De Zerbi in his preferred possession-based system.

However, without the ball, he’s been just as impressive, subsequently winning 1.2 tackles and making 7.8 defensive contributions per 90 - despite his tender age.

Coulibaly has also made 4.8 clearances per 90 and won 48% of his aerial battles - which already demonstrates his excellent ability without the ball at his feet.

It’s unclear if the Lilywhites would be willing to meet his current asking price, but the aforementioned stats highlight the star quality he possesses at both ends of the pitch.

Should he make the move to North London and thrive as much as Caicedo did, the deal would be a tremendous one and would see the club acquire another top-level youngster.

A range of variables will shape Crystal Palace's summer transfer window.

Should Oliver Glasner lead the Eagles to the Conference League title, their third trophy since winning the FA Cup last year, then they will earn a place in next year's Europa League proper.

Their market pull will be greater, as will their hopes of retaining first-team stars such as Adam Wharton and Maxence Lacroix.

One certainty that the Selhurst Park have heading into the summer is that Glasner will not be at the helm next season. Who replaces the title-winning coach is a tricky one, but it appears Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola fronts the shortlist.

The latest on Crystal Palace's manager hunt

Steve Parish and the Crystal Palace superiors do have the benefit of time in their bid to replace Glasner, who unilaterally declared in January that he would not extend his contract at Selhurst Park.

And while there is an acceptance that the Eagles may need to drift away from Glasner's particular tactical approach, a return to defensive, deep-low-block kind of football is not desired. It is for that reason that Iraola is at the top of the shortlist.

Though managers such as Sean Dyche and Thomas Frank are on the club's radar, if they fail to appoint Iraola, they may want to fall back onto a coach with a similar skillset.

And they could find the perfect man in Robbie Keane, who has found success at the helm of Ferencvaros in Hungary and who has already been at the centre of internal discussions in the Palace head offices following Glasner's winter announcement.

Keane was a leading contender to replace Igor Tudor at Tottenham Hotspur, but now that the relegation-threatened side have appointed Roberto De Zerbi, Palace could have a clear shot.

Why Keane would be perfect for Palace

Keane was a devastating Premier League forward back in his day, and he has carried that mentality into his coaching career, placing emphasis on front-footed football.

He typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, but he is not wedded to that style, playing a three-man backline on occasion. In this, he has shown that he has the vision to draw away from Glasner's brand in south London, though he could still adapt to different situations with a system many Eagles player will understand.

The fact that Keane has maintained strong results on the domestic front as well as out in Europe this season bespeaks his potential to succeed at a high-performing Premier League side like Palace, juggling different duties and looking to break the hegemony at the top of the division, emulate the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle and find a place in the Champions League.

It's a big dream, but Glasner has taught Palace to dream big, and Keane could take his place as the project manager fit to lead the outfit for many years.

He is not Iraola, but all coaches start somewhere and Keane has demonstrated the potential to become a top Premier League manager, someone who in a few years might have the same clamour for his signature as the Spaniard does right now.

Iraola will not manage Bournemouth next season, and if Palace can win the Conference League and secure a place in next year's second-tier continental competition, they might just have a case.

However, we can't hide from the fact that the Spaniard will have no shortage of options, and considering that, Keane could be the perfect fallback.

Keane is only at the start of his managerial career, but there's no question that he's got something as a coach, having, after all, won championships with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel before securing the Hungarian top-flight title with Ferencvaros last year. His outfit are neck-and-neck with Gyor for this term's prize (their rivals are three points ahead having played one extra game).

In that, he could emulate Glasner, who won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt before moving to England.

With Crystal Palace hoping to keep their position as title challengers across different fronts, Keane could be the perfect appointment to make, should Iraola prove unattainable, as may well be the case.