Crystal Palace have now set their sights on an alternative managerial option to Thomas Frank, who is “destined for the top”.
Glasner insists more to come from Johnson
Whilst everyone else in South London focuses on who may replace Oliver Glasner this summer, the Austrian himself has remained concentrated on the rest of the season.
It’s been a tough time for the manager in recent months, too. He has lost Marc Guehi and watched on as his side have lost form in both Europe and the Premier League. With two wins in their last 10 Premier League games after spending big in the January transfer window, Glasner and those signings have come under fire.
On that front, Brennan Johnson has taken the majority of the criticism. Since arriving for a hefty £47.5m, the Welshman is yet to score a single goal in 12 games in all competitions.
Glasner has insisted that there is more to come from the former Tottenham Hotspur manager, however, telling reporters: “There are many positive sides (to Johnson’s contribution). But of course I think he didn’t find maybe that consistency in his performances.
“There are always highlights, always creating different situations, but of course he would like to score like any attacking player.
“But I see his effort in training. He is such a great player, he has all the skills that are needed. He has everything, and it’s now to support him, to show this consistently every game, getting his confidence back, and then he will be a great player for Crystal Palace for the rest of the season.”
Crystal Palace’s new Wilfried Zaha could end Mateta’s Selhurst Park career
Crystal Palace need to find some fresh inspiration as Oliver Glasner’s title-winning tenure threatens to fizzle out.
The Palace boss has full belief that Johnson’s goals will come, but the pressure will certainly be on under a new manager in the summer – especially if that is Frank.
The recently-sacked Tottenham boss was the man who decided to sell the winger and could now have an unwanted reunion on his hands unless the Eagles turn elsewhere.
Crystal Palace targeting Kieran McKenna
As reported by Caught Offside, Crystal Palace are now targeting Kieran McKenna.
The Ipswich Town boss earned plenty of interest when he achieved back-to-back promotions from 2022 to 2024, before suffering Premier League relegation. Now, with the Tractor Boys battling to go up yet again, he’s on Palace’s radar.
If the Eagles are seeking someone of a similar ilk to Frank, then McKenna is certainly an option. Like the Dane, he is a young manager, who already has Premier League experience. And that experience would be invaluable when replacing someone as important as Glasner.
Operating with a 4-2-3-1 system, the Ipswich boss has earned plenty of praise at Portman Road.
Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony even told talkSPORT in 2024: “Then you’ve got Ipswich with their style and it was just an enthralling game to watch and that’s what you want to see. I think he’s (McKenna) destined for the top.”
Be it with Ipswich through promotion or with Crystal Palace by replacing Glasner, McKenna looks like he could be on his way back to the Premier League.