NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Crystal Palace are set to sign long-time transfer target Cheick Doucoure after agreeing a fee with Lens for the midfielder.
Doucoure has been linked with Selhurst Park for some time and according to multiple sources, including The Athletic, Palace have completed all the paperwork to sign the 22-year-old for £18million plus add-ons.
The move will be confirmed once his medical is complete and he will become the Eagles’ third signing of the summer following goalkeeper Sam Johnstone’s free transfer from West Brom and teenage winger Malcolm Ebiowei from Derby County.
Acquiring a new midfielder was the top priority for Patrick Vieira this summer as the Palace boss looks to build on an impressive first season as a Premier League manager.
The South London club finished 12th in the table and reached the FA Cup semi-finals as Vieira successfully transitioned Palace from Roy Hodgson’s cautious, defence-minded team, to a side full of energy and attacking flair.
Palace Player of the Year Conor Gallagher was instrumental to this, but the on-loan midfielder has now returned to Chelsea and while Vieira and Palace chairman Steve Parish expressed interest in bringing him back, they have not risked waiting for that opportunity which may not come.
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In addition to losing Gallagher, the futures of fellow midfielders Cheikhou Kouyate and Luka Milivojevic are in doubt with the former out of contract and yet to agree new terms, while the latter is reportedly wanted by Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos.
While more defensively minded than Gallagher, Mali international Doucoure still managed a goal and four assists last season as Lens finished an impressive seventh in Ligue 1.
Palace will be hoping Doucoure can follow in the footsteps of the other talented, young players that were signed last season, including Gallagher, Michael Olise and Marc Guehi.
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