Crystal Palace have agreed personal terms with Cheick Doucoure and, according to La Voix du Nord, the Premier League-bound enforcer is now refusing to extend his contract with RC Lens.
Perhaps that should come as no surprise.
A certain Harry Kane will tell you all about the dangers of signing a long-term deal, one that ties you down for a number of years while strengthening the hand of the club you want to leave.
Doucoure, one of the most exciting young talents to emerge from the self-professed ‘League of Talents’, holds all the cards as things stand. In stark contrast to Kane. His current deal expires in the summer of 2024.
No wonder the Mali international has no plans to extend his contract.
Especially when you consider that this summer is perhaps the last chance Lens have to obtain a sizeable sum for their prized asset. This time next year, Doucoure will be entering the final 12 months of his deal, his market value falling considerably. The year after that, he will be available for free.
So while finding an adequate replacement would be easier said than done, it certainly makes sound financial sense to cash in on Doucoure now. According to La Voix du Nord, the one-time Arsenal, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur target has already agreed personal terms with Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace agree terms with Lens star Cheick Doucoure
Doucoure is Patrick Vieira’s number one summer target. The Palace boss is reportedly ‘crazy’ about the man mountain midfielder, convinced that a player of Doucoure’s energy, skill and power has everything required to thrive in the hustle and bustle of English football.
“For me, he is one of the best number sixes defence in Ligue 1,” says Marseille legend Eric Roy.
“He has everything to evolve in this position; An extraordinary football IQ, a fantastic first touch, technical ability and he recovers a lot of balls. And beyond that, he’s a boy with a great mentality, who constantly wants to progress. With him, you can’t go wrong.”
Agreeing terms with Doucoure, however, is the easy bit. Agreeing terms with Lens, in contrast, is proving to be a much greater task.
La Voix du Nord claim that French football’s perennial overachievers want around £21 million. According to Goal, Crystal Palace’s most recent offer – £14.5 million – fell a long way short of that.
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