Cheikhou Kouyate looks set to leave Crystal Palace this summer after making no further progress over a new contract.
The Eagles have been in talks with the Senagalese midfielder, whose current deal expires on Thursday, although reports suggest he will walk away from the club as a free agent after failing to agree on a new contract.
Palace agreed to one-year contract extensions for James McArthur, Nathaniel Clyne, James Tomkins and Jordan Ayew this month after their deals were also expiring, though Kouyate has reportedly been holding out for a two-year deal amid transfer interest in him from abroad.
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The defensive midfielder has been a Premier League regular since he joined West Ham from Anderlecht in 2014, making close to 150 appearances for the Hammers before signing for Palace in 2018 where he quickly established himself as an important and versatile member of the squad.
Last season he made 31 appearances under Patrick Vieira, primarily in defensive midfield, but he also played as a makeshift centre-back at times, notably in the 2-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea at Wembley. Kouyate also took a month off at the start of 2022 when he was one of three players (with Ayew and Wilfried Zaha) to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations, receiving a hero’s welcome upon his return to Palace’s Beckenham training ground in February after winning the tournament with Senegal.
The midfielder made headlines again later in the season after publicly supporting international teammate Idrissa Gueye when the PSG star allegedly refused to play for his club in a match against Montpellier due to there being rainbow colours on a special edition shirt the Parisians were wearing for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
Vieira promised to speak to Kouyate about the incident afterwards but Eagles fans were less forgiving, with many calling for him to leave the club following the expiry of his contract at the end of the season. Many, it now seems, may have got their wish, with Palace now looking at how they will the hole left by the Senegalese ahead of the new campaign.
Will Hughes and club captain Luka Milivojevic both featured in defensive midfield at times last season, though the latter could also be on his way out the door this summer if Palace receives offers for him. Meanwhile, progress has been made in a deal to bring Lens’ Cheick Doucoure to the club after the club submitted a renewed offer for the 22-year-old this week.
Palace had initially offered £14.5million for the midfielder, who would act as a like-for-like replacement to Kouyate, but were rebuffed by Lens, who have been holding out for a better price for their highly-coveted Mali international. Palace’s second approach seems to have done the trick though, with the midfielder now reportedly set for a medical with the club on Thursday.
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