England manager Gareth Southgate is among the contenders to take over from Roy Hodgson as Crystal Palace manager, according to a report.
Seventy-six-year-old Hodgson returned for a second spell in charge of the Eagles during the spring of 2023, taking the reins back from Patrick Vieira after initially departing his post at the end of the 2020-21 season.
Hodgson's return to the Selhurst Park dugout initially had the desired effect, but the former England head coach has since faced frequent calls to leave his post amid the Eagles' Premier League plight.
Since the New Year, Palace fans have protested against Hodgson's stewardship and the board in crushing away defeats to Arsenal (5-0) and M23 derby foes Brighton & Hove Albion, who crushed the Eagles 4-1 two weekends ago.
After witnessing a first-half capitulation at the Amex, Hodgson was also lambasted for bringing on Michael Olise at half time, only to see the winger - who had come off injured against Sheffield United in the previous game - suffer a serious hamstring issue within moments of entering the fray.
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Despite the incessant calls from furious fans to give Hodgson the boot, Palace are not expected to pull the trigger on the 76-year-old just yet, apparently due to a lack of candidates willing to take the job midway through the season.
Hodgson's contract only runs until the end of the campaign, though, and he is expected to vacate the Selhurst Park hotseat for a second time this summer, at which point the Palace hierarchy must search for a long-term replacement.
According to The Sun, the Eagles could launch an audacious bid to prise Southgate away from the England setup after Euro 2024, as the 53-year-old's deal with the Three Lions is only due to run until the end of the calendar year.
After a disappointing World Cup quarter-final exit last year, Southgate has acknowledged that his job will not be safe if England under-perform at the upcoming Euros, which his side enter as one of the favourites to go all the way.
However, the FA are believed to be keen on retaining Southgate's services after this summer's continental championships, forcing Palace to look elsewhere in their search for a successor to Hodgson.
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Lille boss Fonseca - formerly of Roma - is another name on the Eagles' shortlist, and the 50-year-old's deal with the 2020-21 French champions only runs until the end of June.
Ex-Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has long been regarded as one of the favourites for the Palace job in the wake of his Nottingham Forest sacking, but the report claims that he has already been overlooked for the job, despite being Steve Parish's preferred choice.
Julen Lopetegui and Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna have supposedly been assessed as well, but the latter will cost £4m to prise away from Portman Road, while the former's transfer and budgetary demands could prove excessive.
Hodgson and his Palace troops are currently preparing for Monday's London derby with Chelsea, where victory could lift the Eagles - who are five points clear of the relegation places - up to 13th in the Premier League table.
Ben Knapton
