New Crystal Palace signing Cheick Doucoure has revealed exactly what Eagles boss Patrick Vieira said to him that convinced him to join the club this summer.
The Mali international put pen to paper on a five-year deal at Selhurst Park on Monday and will finalise his transfer, subject to international clearance, this week before linking up with his new teammates and manager. Doucoure was Vieira's No.1 transfer target this summer after witnessing him up close while manager of Ligue 1 side Nice and continuing to be impressed with his development in the last two years.
The 22-year-old has now become Palace's third signing of the summer transfer window following the arrivals of goalkeeper Sam Johnstone from West Bromwich Albion and Malcolm Ebiowei from Derby County, both on frees. Palace are understood to have paid Lens an initial £18million for Doucoure which could rise to £22million with add-ons.
READ MORE: Crystal Palace announce Cheick Doucoure signing as Patrick Vieira lands major transfer target
The Eagles made their intent to sign Doucoure clear from the outset this summer, with Vieira personally providing the defensive midfielder with all the assurances he needed to make the switch to the Premier League and play outside of France for the first time in his career.
"He [Vieira] told me 'I'm going to make you better,'" said Doucoure. "He said 'I know your game and I've known it for a while so I know what you need.' I think that I'm going to work well. I want him to bring me what I'm missing from my game. I want him to teach me a lot of things to reach the highest level. He's been a really important factor in me joining. My game is not is not perfect yet. I know that I have to work with humility."
Doucoure made 130 appearances for Lens across four seasons, helping the club gain promotion to Ligue 1 in 2020 and becoming one of the team's most important players as they finished last season in seventh place. A full Mali international, Doucoure has also represented the Eagles five times and will now have another Eagle on his chest in south London.
"I'm a believer," he added. "It’s destiny and destiny always does nice things. I couldn’t sign anywhere apart from Palace. I’ve been an Eagles since my childhood so this is a good thing. I know the Palace fans expect a lot from me. I’m going to work hard and I will make sure they’re happy to have me as a Palace player."
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