Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman has rejected an offer to join Newcastle, talkSPORT understands.
Freedman looked set to join the Magpies, replacing Dan Ashworth, who will take on the role of sporting director at Manchester United.
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It is now widely reported that Freedman will stay at Palace and sign a new contract with a “significant pay rise”.
talkSPORT understands Newcastle are still hoping they can persuade Freedman to join.
Freedman, who represented Palace as a player for eight years, had been linked with a move to Man United earlier in the season.
He has been credited with some of their brilliant transfer activity in recent years, including deals to sign promising talents including Michael Olise, Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze.
All three were signed for relatively low fees but have been linked with big-money transfers this summer.
Newcastle are keen to find someone to fill the role of sporting director before the summer transfer window opens after the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Ashworth was put on gardening leave after expressing his desire to join Man United.
Ashworth will partner technical director Jason Wilcox, who left Southampton for Man United in April.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made big changes at United since joining as a minority shareholder, including hiring Omar Berrada as CEO of Manchester City.
Wilcox was recruited from Southampton as technical director, with Ashworth seen as the final piece of the puzzle.
