A resurgent Crystal Palace have agreed to personal terms with RC Lens midfielder Cheick Doucoure over a move this summer.
According to The Athletic, Premier League club Crystal Palace are closing in on signing RC Lens midfielder Cheick Doucoure in the ongoing summer transfer window.
The 22-year-old moved to Lens from Real Bamako in 2018 and initially spent time in the Ligue 1 club’s reserve side. Four years on, the Malian international is a regular for the senior team and has made 131 appearances for them, scoring eight goals and assisting seven more.
A defensive midfielder, Doucoure is an adept player with good defensive nous. He is excellent at winning the ball back and will provide Crystal Palace with a reliable defensive shield in the middle of the pitch. This should offer Patrick Vieira’s team the balance they need in midfield.
The Arsenal legend has enjoyed a promising debut season at Selhurst Park and will be keen to take his team to the next level. The Crystal Palace manager has a slew of promising young players at his disposal and will now need to keep their development going.
Conor Gallagher was Crystal Palace’s standout player last season, but his return to Chelsea this summer will force Vieira’s hand regarding tactics. Bringing in Doucoure will give the likes of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze the freedom to get further forward and express themselves more in the attack.
Crystal Palace are already in talks to land the 22-year-old and remain confident of landing him. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue, and it would appear to be just a matter of time before he makes his way to Selhurst Park.
Doucoure still has some kinks to iron out and is largely untested at the top level. He will need to up his game to thrive in the Premier League. But with an asking price of around €20 million, Crystal Palace will be well within their right to take a leap of faith.
In Vieira, the young Malian will have one of the greatest Premier League midfielders to guide him in his development. It could prove to be a win-win for all parties involved should the transfer go through.