Crystal Palace have agreed a fee to sign Lens midfielder Cheick Doucoure
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Crystal Palace are closing in on the signing of Lens midfielder Cheick Doucoure as part of a deal that could eventually be worth £22million.
Palace have been in talks with Lens for weeks and a breakthrough has been found after they agreed to pay an initial fee of £18m, which could rise with add-ons.
Doucoure has provisionally agreed personal terms ahead of a move to Selhurst Park and is set to sign a five-year contract.
The Mali international is one of Eagles boss Patrick Vieira’s top targets as he seeks to strengthen his midfield this summer.
Conor Gallagher has returned to Chelsea after excelling on loan last season, while Cheikhou Kouyate is expected to leave for free when his contract expires tomorrow. Palace had further issues in midfield last season as James McArthur struggled with injury and Luka Milivojevic started only nine Premier League games.
Doucoure will add fresh blood in the middle of the pitch and the 22-year-old put in a number of impressive performances in Ligue 1 last season.
He will most likely operate at the base of Palace’s midfield in front of the defence, but he has the ability to play higher up the pitch too.
Doucoure would become Palace’s third signing of the summer after they agreed deals for goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and winger Malcolm Ebiowei.
Both players are arriving for free after their previous contracts expired, with Johnstone leaving West Brom and Ebiowei parting ways with Derby.
