Leicester take inspiration from Crystal Palace with £9m transfer plan

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Leicester City are keeping tabs on RC Lens duo Brice Samba and Abdul Samed, according to Corriere dello Sport, with Brendan Rodgers’ side potentially taking a leaf out of Premier League rivals Crystal Palace’s book. 

It speaks volumes about the immediate impact Cheick Doucoure has made at Selhurst Park that, whenever the £18 million summer signing is unavailable, Crystal Palace look like an entirely different side.  

And not for the better either. 

If Erling Haaland is without doubt the best pound-for-pound signing made by any Premier League side in the last transfer window, then Doucoure certainly isn’t far behind.

It’s down to Abdul Samed’s own impressive form, however, that the Malian maestro has not been missed anywhere near as much as you might imagine at former club Lens. A £4 million addition from Clermont, Samed has stepped brilliantly and effortlessly into Doucoure’s shoes; ensuring Lens go into the World Cup break as PSG’s closest challengers at the top of Ligue 1. 

Could Leicester City take inspiration from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace?

“I’m happy to be compared to Cheick. We have the same style of play,” explains Samed, who shares Doucoure’s energy and industry on and off the ball. “I like his style. His bullet passes.” 

“(Samed) has been very consistent since the start of the season. He plays a very, very good game,” adds Lens coach Franck Haise. 

It seems unlikely Lens would be happy to sell Samed, so soon after bringing him in as a replacement for another star midfielder. That has not stopped Leicester from showing an interest, however. The £9 million Ghana international, Correire dello Sport add, is liked by The Foxes and Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Leicester, interestingly, are also eyeing up Samed’s Lens team-mate Brice Samba. The former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper has conceded just 10 goals in 15 Ligue 1 games thus far. 

Leicester’s interest in Samed, meanwhile, may raise further questions surrounding Boubakary Soumare’s future. The former Lille youngster has struggled to impress at the King Power. He did, however, produce arguably his finest Foxes performance in the recent 2-0 win at West Ham United.