Chairman reacts as Manchester United target his ‘brilliant’ 49-year-old director

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Reports suggesting Manchester United like Crystal Palace director of football Dougie Freedman is ‘flattering’ for the Premier League outfit, according to Eagles chairman Steve Parish.

Paul Mitchell may appear to be the frontrunner to become the first sporting director of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era at Old Trafford, but the former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton chief is far from the only option under consideration.

According to The Telegraph, there is interest in Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta, Atalanta’s Lee Congerton and AC Milan icon Paolo Maldini too.

Dougie Freedman, however, has the advantage of being admired by none other than his fellow Scotsman Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United legend expected to aid Ratcliffe’s transformation of the Red Devils behind the scenes.

Parish did not confirm or deny the reports suggesting that Freedman could be on his way to Manchester. But he can understand why the Glasgow-born 49-year-old has plenty of admirers outside of Selhurst Park.

Manchester United eye Dougie Freedman

“I don’t think (there has) been any conversations,” Parish tells the Rest is Football podcast. “But (the Manchester United rumours are) very flattering for the club.

“You guys live in the world where 50 per cent of the stories told in the media are true and 50 per cent aren’t. It’s just that we don’t know which ones.”

Freedman might not be quite as glamorous as Maldini or as proven as Mitchell, but a litany of successful signings at Crystal Palace speaks volumes about his eye for a bargain and his impressive judge of character.

Palace signed the likes of Ebere Eze, Michael Olise, Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen and Cheick Doucoure on his watch. Freedman also played a major role in bringing in the very highly-rated Matheus Franca. Palace reportedly fought off competition from Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants a director of football

“He’s been really important for us. If you’re going to do this, you’ve got to do it with people that you like to start with. There’s so much pressure sometimes,” Parish adds.

“He’s a brilliant guy. He was the second manager I had at the club, and he was instrumental in us getting promoted. He’s been instrumental. He got us promoted and he’s got a real affinity to the club.

“Dougie works really hard, and we’ve signed some really good players. Most importantly, with the transfer window, which is probably the hardest part of the job, it’s fun being involved in that and doing all that with him. The fact he’s being linked to clubs like that shows we’re doing the right thing.”