Crystal Palace are closing in on a £15 million deal for Cheick Doucoure with Patrick Vieira feeling the Lens enforcer will thrive in the Premier League, as reported by the Daily Mail.
You can see why Vieira has come to such a conclusion.
Is there anything Doucoure can’t do? Not according to Lens team-mate and midfield partner Seko Fofana, describing the Malian international as an ‘incredibly complete’ footballer who, boasting an excellent passing range, boundless energy and a combination of technical and physical gifts, is both a dictator and a destroyer rolled into one.
According to French publication FootMercato, Vieira is ‘crazy’ about Doucoure. The Crystal Palace boss has reportedly made Ligue 1’s breakthrough star his number one summer target, regardless of whether veteran trio James McArthur, Cheickhou Kouyate and Luka Milivojevic stay or go at Selhurst Park.
Palace opened talks with Doucoure in May. And while an agreement has not yet been reached, The Mail believe that a breakthrough is close with negotiations ongoing.
Crystal Palace close in on £15m Cheick Doucoure deal
According to The Mirror, Arsenal, Everton, Crystal Palace, Wolves and Brighton are all big fans of the colossal 22-year-old. Aston Villa failed with a £10 million bid 10 months ago, while Doucoure was also ‘disappointed’ to miss out on a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Doucoure should finally seal his departure from perennial overachievers Lens in the coming weeks, however. The five-time international was recently left out of Mali’s squad for this months African Cup of Nations qualifiers as he negotiates a move away from Lens.
Crystal Palace are also reportedly keen on Ola Aina and Bayern Munich’s Chris Richards. Right-back target Junior Sambia will leave Montpellier on a free transfer on July 1st, while Daniil Fomin is an option to replace the departing Conor Gallagher.
Long-serving Milivojevic, meanwhile, could reunite with Marco Silva at Fulham. Goalkeeper Jack Butland is a target for Rangers.
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