Crystal Palace fans are starting to sweat that Yves Bissouma's prospective £25million move to Tottenham Hotspur this summer could have repercussions on their own transfer targets.
Reports on Tuesday morning in the Times suggest that 25-year-old Bissouma will sign a five-year contract at Spurs and is scheduled to undergo a medical there on Thursday, bringing an end to his four-year spell on the south coast with the Seagulls. Bissouma will become Antonio Conte's third signing of the summer window following the arrivals of goalkeeper Fraser Forster and Croatian international Ivan Perisic.
The deal will no doubt be a blow for Graham Potter and his Brighton side, though Palace fans are more worried about what the deal could spell for them as both clubs are now hunting a defensive midfielder to add to their ranks this window.
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The Eagles have reportedly agreed personal terms with the highly-rated Lens player Cheick Doucoure, tabling an initial offer of around £14.5million this week. The Ligue 1 side are said to be holding out for around £21million, though Palace fans are starting to get nervous that Brighton could now try and hijack their deal for Patrick Vieira's number one transfer target once Bissouma's departure is confirmed.
The Seagulls were one of the teams - along with Palace, Arsenal, Wolves and Everton - who were said to be keen on Doucoure this summer, though the Eagles appear to be front and centre in the race for his signature with the chance to work for French football icon Vieira said to be an important factor in Doucoure's interest to come to Selhurst Park.
That won't stop Palace fans sweating until the transfer is signed, sealed and delivered, though. One comment on social media on Tuesday morning, reacting to Bissouma's Spurs news, said: "I'm not laughing at Brighton for losing Bissouma until we get Doucoure in," while another said: "Spurs signing Bissouma makes me feel as though we really need to get this Doucoure deal over the line as sharply as we can. With a gap in defensive midfield, I can see Brighton coming in for him now and having the funds to do so as well."
