Crystal Palace are facing fresh competition over one of their mooted managerial targets, and it's not great news for Steve Parish...

What's the word?

According to an update from Italian outlet Calciomercato, several Ligue 1 teams are also keen on appointing Paulo Fonseca, with Olympique Lyonnais the most interested.

Only a few weeks ago, reports surfaced suggesting that the Eagles owner and CEO had already held talks with the 48-year-old over potentially succeeding Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park.

The 73-year-old is out of contract this summer and no fresh announcement has been made over his future, whilst his brand of football has come under fire, especially with players like Wilfried Zaha and Eberechi Eze at his disposal.

Fonseca will leave the Serie A side at the end of the season, opening the door for Palace to strike if they so wish but now they face fierce competition.

Bad news for Parish

If Parish has indeed already spoken to the Portuguese manager, then this latest development will come as a gutting blow as it means the mid-table straddlers will have to compete with a team that are likely to be competing in Europe next season.

And whilst the chance to manage in the Premier League is an attractive prospect in its own right, the opportunity to display your talents in the Europa and Champions League may be much more tempting.

Fonseca has a very respectable record, too. At Roma, he has accrued a 52% win rate, yet the Italian club feel that Jose Mourinho is the man to take them onto the next level.

By comparison, Hodgson has won only 33% of his matches in charge of the Eagles.

One downside to hiring the former Shakhtar Donetsk boss would be the fact that he's never managed in England before but having left a long coaching career in Portugal, where he transformed Pacos de Ferreira from relegation candidates to European contenders, for the obscurity of Ukraine, he should have no problem in adapting to new conditions.

However, Palace's chances of now clinching him would appear to be a lot slimmer than they were several weeks ago, and that won't please Parish whatsoever.

AND in other news, Next Crystal Palace boss in line for major Wilfried Zaha boost...