Naouirou Ahamada is set to complete a £10.5 million switch to Crystal Palace with Stuttgart coach Bruno Labbadia confirming that the Mali international is ‘in London’ ahead of his move to the Premier League, speaking to Sky Germany.
The excitement that greeted the return of James McArthur to first-team training spoke volumes.
While a fine player, and a consummate professional, the fact that some Palace fans were counting down the days until a 35-year-old was back fit told a rather damning story about the lack of quality midfield depth available to Patrick Vieira at Selhurst Park.
Ahamada, then, is more than welcome in South London. The one-time Juventus youngster, 15 years McArthur’s junior, offers not only an injection of youthful exuberance, but also promises to give Vieira something different in the centre of the park.
Crystal Palace are close to signing Naouirou Ahamada from Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart
Ahamada is a ball carrier; someone capable of turning defence into attack with a trademark burst of acceleration and some mazy footwork. The former France U18 international even set up two goals in what looks likely to be his final appearance for relegation-threatened Stuttgart, copping a second yellow card after letting excitement get the better of him in the resulting celebrations.
Ahamada, the Daily Mail say, should join on an initial three-and-a-half year deal. Crystal Palace will pay around £10.5 million; Stuttgart’s new head coach admitting that the Marseille-born schemer has already arrived in the English capital.
“He’s in London at the moment. Nothing has been signed yet,” says Labbadia.
“We have to accept things that are not optimal due to the sporting situation. It wasn’t the original plan to hand him over. But the club stands above everything. And if we can only invest a fraction of this transfer fee, then we have to do it.
“It’s important to stand together very closely even in such phases. But it’s also clear; (Selling Ahamada) one day before the end of the transfer window, it’s not an easy thing.”
Stuttgart already appear to have moved on from Ahamada. Veteran Genki Haraguchi was unveiled by the 2004 Bundesliga champions on Monday. The Japan international is joined at the Mercedes Benz Arena by one-time Nottingham Forest loanee Gil Dias.
A new midfielder at long last
Palace boss Vieira, meanwhile, is making no secret of his desire for new additions. A midfielder is right at the top of his wishlist, though a Selhurst Park return for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher remains unlikely.
“I hope we manage to bring those players to help the team be more competitive,” Vieira tells Sky Sports. “Conor did really well when he was with us last year. And we will be interested in bringing good players to our club.
“Conor is a good footballer. But he’s at Chelsea, and there’s no sign that there is the possibility for him to leave. So we can’t hope for something that we are not sure to get.
“That means for us it’s important to open our mind (to other options).”
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