Crystal Palace are close to signing RC Lens’ Cheick Doucoure, having agreed on personal terms with the defensive midfielder. The Eagles will have to agree on a fee with the French side RC Lens, who value their player at €25 million.
Cheick Doucoure, 22, is rated as one of Ligue 1’s highly-rated young midfield talents. The Mali international had a strong 2021/22 campaign with RC Lens, racking up 34 appearances and helping them finish seventh on the table. The defensive midfielder’s performances haven’t gone unnoticed, with Everton also interested in him.
Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has identified Doucoure as a top target in this transfer window following star performer Conor Gallagher’s return to Chelsea at the expiry of his loan spell. In goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, Vieira has already bagged his first summer signing of the window and now wants to focus on reinforcing his midfield options.
Patrick Vieira eyeing a central midfielder
The departure of Conor Gallagher is a big blow to Crystal Palace, who finished 12th in Patrick Vieira’s first season in charge at the club. Gallagher became indispensable to the Eagles and Vieira knows it will be challenging to fill the emerging English midfielder’s void left in the starting XI.
The likes of Will Hughes, Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur blew hot and cold throughout the last campaign. With Milivojevic linked with an exit and McArthur set to turn 35 in October, it is imperative for the south Londoners to sign a central midfielder.
Are the Eagles closing in on Cheick Doucoure?
Crystal Palace have agreed on personal terms with Cheick Doucoure and are now trying to sort out a fee with Lens.
Doucoure is a talented midfielder who is full of energy, can make crisp passes and win possession back for his team with his tenacious tackling and crucial interceptions. The Mali international never shies away from receiving the ball from the defence and is a progressive passer of the ball, whilst not compromising on his defensive duties.
The 22-year-old has a well-rounded skill-set, and his potential addition would help in ensuring the Eagles playing squad keep its fine balance of youthful exuberance and experience. Doucoure is still very young and raw in some aspects of his game but he could continue his steady development under an astute manager like Vieira.
Palace have shown a change in transfer policy since Vieira’s appointment last summer, moving aside from signing ageing players to young talents with potential. And a move for Doucoure would further represent their complete faith in the French tactician’s project at Selhurst Park.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
