- Crystal Palace were eyeing Gregory Lorenzi
- French director opts to stay in Ligue 1
- Eagles still need a Dougie Freedman replacement
Crystal Palace’s plans to appoint Gregory Lorenzi as their new sporting director have gone up in smoke. The French director was seemingly on the club’s radar but he’s opted to remain in France.
According to Foot Mercato, Lorenzi has agreed to join OGC Nice at the end of the season. Nottingham Forest had him in their sights as an Edu replacement following the Brazilian’s unceremonious departure earlier this season.
Palace were also eyeing him too with the same outlet claiming that “some talks” were held between the club and the director. His work at Brest has earned rave reviews, particularly for helping them reach the UEFA Champions League.
Lorenzi Snubs Palace
Nice find themselves in the midst of a relegation battle and currently sit five points ahead of AJ Auxerre, who are in a relegation play-off spot, with three games remaining. But the pull of a club owned by Manchester United co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS has proved decisive.
The French club still needs to arrange the departure of its current sporting director, Florian Maurice. But for Palace, it means they will not be appointing the Frenchman.
The Eagles are still looking for a replacement for Dougie Freedman after the club legend left his role in 2025. He ended an eight-year spell at Selhurst Park, and he’d been central to recruitment over the years.
Why Lorenzi is Admired
Lorenzi is described as the chief architect of Brest’s rise in French football, stepping into the sporting structure in 2016. His recruitment has been smart, targeting undervalued players who helped the club not only stabilise in Ligue 1 but also seal Champions League qualification.
Brest finished third in 2023-24, qualifying for Europe’s elite club competition. The likes of Romain Del Castillo and Pierre Lees-Malou arrived for low fees and became hugely important players.
Lees-Molou, signed from Norwich City, was named in Ligue 1’s Team of the Season in 2023-24. It’s easy to understand why Lorenzi was highly sought-after given his knack of pulling off bargain buys and achieving success with a limited budget.
