Roberto Mancini eyeing Crystal Palace job with Alan Pardew on the brink of getting sacked
Former Manchester City and Inter boss targets a Premier League return with Eagles
FORMER Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is eyeing a Premier League return with Crystal Palace.
The Italian coach has thrown his hat into the ring for the Selhurst Park hotseat if under pressure Alan Pardew is sacked.
Mancini wrote himself into City folklore during his previous stint in England.
After taking charge at the Etihad in 2009, the 52-year-old guided the Citizens to their first league title in 44 years.
The former Bologna, Sampdoria, Lazio and Leicester City forward also won the FA Cup during his reign in the north west.
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He is a big fan of the English game, and the opportunity to take charge of the Eagles is one too tempting to resist for the out of work coach.
Mancini was sacked by Serie A giants Inter Milan on the eve of this season after returning to the San Siro in 2014.
Previous to that he had been in Turkey after spending a year in charge of Galatasaray following his exit from City.
Ex-England boss Sam Allardyce has also expressed his interest in replacing Pardew as the pressure continues to intensify on the Palace chief.
The club have lost their last six matches and only goal difference is keeping them outside of the relegation zone.
Pardew has overseen just three league victories this campaign despite splashing the cash on Christian Benteke, James Tomkins and Andros Townsend in the summer.
Although he guided them to the FA Cup final last season, the south London outfit have endured a miserable 2016.
They have averaged 0.71 points per game – easily the worst record out of all 92 clubs in the league.
Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira, who was considered for the role before Pardew’s appointment last year, and Wales manager Chris Coleman are also believed to be in the frame.
Eagles chiefs have already been discussing the possibility of axing their manager and plans are underway in case they do part ways.
Pardew has held talks this week with the club’s chairman and his friend Steve Parish as he battles to keep his job ahead of crunch clashes against his former side Southampton and fellow strugglers Hull City.
But, the club’s American major shareholders David Blitzer and Josh Harris are less than impressed by the slide of the club down the table.
And it is believed that they will pull the trigger and fire Pardew should the Eagles fail to defeat the Saints this weekend.