Crystal Palace manager target Claudio Ranieri has officially joined Nantes.

There were suggestions that Ranieri was delaying the move because he wanted the Eagles to come in with an offer.

But Nantes announced his arrival on Thursday as he signed a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 club.

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It is Ranieri’s first job back in management since being sacked by Leicester in February - less than a year after winning the Premier League.

Mauricio Pellegrino, Manuel Pellegrini and Sean Dyche are the favourites to succeed Sam Allardyce at Selhurst Park.