Former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder on bookies' shortlists to take over at Championship rivals Fulham after Celtic, West Brom and Crystal Palace links

Chris Wilder, the former Sheffield United manager, could be set for an early return to Bramall Lane next season after being installed as the bookmakers’ favourite to replace Scott Parker at Fulham.
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Parker, the former England midfielder, is negotiating with the Cottagers over mutually terminating his contract and is expected to join AFC Bournemouth, another of the Blades’ promotion rivals.

And Wilder, who left United in March after leading them into the Premier League with two promotions in three seasons, tops the bookies’ odds to replace Parker as Fulham look to get back into the top flight at the first attempt. Both United and Fulham were relegated to the Championship last season.

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Steve Cooper, the Swansea boss, and the former Celtic boss Neil Lennon also feature in the betting, as does ex-West Brom chief Slaven Bilic.

Understandably, it is far from the first vacant job Wilder has been linked with this summer…

Celtic

Wilder was also mentioned in connection with the vacant Celtic Park job after Lennon left in February. Sky pundit Andy Hinchcliffe suggested that Wilder would be a good fit for Celtic, as they looked to wrestle back the SPL title from Steven Gerrard’s Rangers.

Former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: Andrew Boyers/PA Wire.Former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: Andrew Boyers/PA Wire.
Former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: Andrew Boyers/PA Wire.

But after a long flirtation with Eddie Howe, Celtic moved quickly to appoint Ange Postecoglou at Celtic Park.

West Brom

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Another club relegated from the top flight last season, the Baggies were on the lookout for a new manager after Sam Allardyce quit earlier this summer.

It’s understood that Wilder spoke to officials at the Hawthorns about taking over, and a deal seemed all-but done until West Brom had a change of heart at the eleventh hour. They moved for David Wagner, who went abroad, before appointing Valérien Ismaël after agreeing a compensation fee with Barnsley.

Crystal Palace

Wilder, the former Sheffield United manager, appeared on bookmakers’ lists of names being linked with the vacant Crystal Palace role after the Eagles confirmed that Roy Hodgson is to leave Selhurst Park.

The former England manager departed this summer when his contract expired, having helped Palace become established in the Premier League since being appointed in 2017.

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Palace considered Ismael and Cooper, and are reportedly eyeing Paulo Fonseca after the out-of-work coach’s planned move to Spurs broke down.

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