Newspaper reports in England state that Palace bosses have asked newly-installed Warnock, 65, to help head-hunt his own successor - just five games into his second coming at the club.

Popovic, according UK sources, is well placed to be approached.

The Western Sydney Wanderers coach skippered Palace for five years and spend a season as assistant coach in 2011 before being recruited to lead the Wanderers into the A-League in 2012.

He was first linked with the top job at Selhurst Park a year ago after Ian Holloway’s departure and then again when Tony Pullis pulled the pin in August.

Warnock subsequently returned for a second spell on a two-year contract while Popovic was otherwise engaged guiding the Wanderers to the AFC Champions League final and not willing, at that stage, to express a firm interest.

It is understood that Palace chairman Steve Parish wants to install a manager who has played for the club, understands its inner workings and has excelled as a coach elsewhere - with Warnock to act as a mentor and advisor to the new man.

Popovic ticks all those boxes and while he has privately said that he believes a move to Japan - where he played for Sanfrecce Hiroshima - might be his next progression, it might prove impossible to resist a formal approach from the Premier League club.

A source close to Palace said: "The plan is for Warnock to oversee things from above, so-to-speak, and act in an advisory role to a younger coach, who would come in and run the team.

"They would confer on signings and the like. That's the club's long-term vision. They were looking at one ex-Palace player but he is already in a manager's job and didn't want to leave.

"They have been really impressed by what Popovic has achieved at Western Sydney ... getting his club to the Champions League final on a limited budget has seen his stocks rise even further.

"The time line is flexible - but the club would be more than willing to appoint somebody very soon if the right man could be found."

Palace has a history of appointing ex-players as managers, with Scotsman Douge Freedman - who had two spells at Selhurst Park on the field - landing the gig in 2011, when Popovic was his assistant.

Steve Kember (2011-2003), Iain Dowie (2003-2006) and Peter Taylor (2006-2007) are others who made the jump into the dugout while Curtis Fleming was a caretaker in 2012.

While Palace monitors Popovic, he is eying glory in the AFC Champions League final against Saudi side Al Hilal, and would be unlikely to consider his future until after the two-legged showdown.

Popovic’s exploits have not gone unnoticed elsewhere either, with Norwich City and K.League club Ulsan Hyundai both making approaches early this year.

Last week, Western Sydney chairman Paul Lederer told TWG: “I must say that Tony is very committed to the club. He loves the club and it's his passion. We have a great relationship with him and I'm sure that he will be with us for many years to come."