26th Jun, 2021 | 4:00pm

Sources: Swansea City make Appleton approach as Crystal Palace close in on Cooper

Swansea City have approached Lincoln City manager Michael Appleton about being their new manager, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.

The Championship club have turned their attention to finding a successor to Steve Cooper as he closes in on the Crystal Palace job.

A Swans source has told Football Insider that Appleton, 45, is the leading contender to replace Cooper and soundings are taking place.

Appleton held talks with West Brom earlier this month but his old club were unwilling to pay compensation to prise him from Lincoln.

They have instead appointed Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael.

Lincoln and Swansea enjoyed similar campaigns last season as they were beaten in the League One and Championship play-off finals, respectively.

Appleton has been in charge of the Imps for almost two years and penned a new four-year deal with the club in February.

However, he was denied the second promotion of his managerial career by his former club Blackpool at Wembley last month.

The 45-year-old has previous experience of managing in the Championship with the Seasiders, Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers.

Swansea have a strong recent history of appointing young progressive coaches after Cooper replaced Graham Potter.

Potter quit the Swans to take over at Brighton & Hove Albion and has established himself as one of the Premier League’s brightest young managers.

Cooper has spent two full seasons in charge of the club and has failed to earn promotion after finishing in the play-off positions twice.

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