Cheick Doucoure has sent Lens fans a farewell message on Instagram as his proposed £22million transfer to Crystal Palace draws ever closer.
The 22-year-old Mali international has been Patrick Vieira’s number one target this summer and following lengthy negotiations with Lens a transfer fee understood to be around £22million has been agreed between the two clubs, with personal terms between the Eagles and Doucoure sorted early on talks.
Palace head out on their pre-season tour of Singapore and Australia this week, with the club keen to finalise the deal for their midfield target before then. football.london understands that securing a work permit for Doucoure has been the main reason for a delay in announcing his arrival though this should not hold up the deal for much longer.
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And now, Doucoure has sent a message to his former Lens teammates and the club’s fans as he announces his move overseas without specifically naming the new league he’ll be playing in or his new club. Writing on Instagram, the 22-year-old said: “I thank you, the fans who have given and supported me so much.
"Thank you for these magnificent and extraordinary years spent by your side. I’m flying to other skies to continue a career that I hope will make you proud, as you made me proud to be Lensois. I will never forget you. You will always be by my side and in my heart. Forever Lensois.”
Doucoure has been a popular figure for Lens over the years where he made 130 appearances across four seasons for the first team, representing them in Ligue 2 and Ligue 1 following the team’s promotion in 2020. The midfielder regularly partnered club captain Seko Fofana during that time, with the former Fulham man previously waxing lyrical about his Lens teammate.
“Cheick knows how to do everything on the pitch,” said Fofana. “He works in the shadows and, for me, he is very important. He is incredibly complete. He’s one of the best players I’ve played with. He knows how to shoot from distance, how to pass, break the lines, dribble and defend.”
And following Lens’ recent pre-season friendly match against Valenciennes on Friday - which they won 3-0 - Fofana spoke again about his ‘irreplaceable’ partner, telling L’Equipe: “These are things that happen in football. We have to be honest, he is irreplaceable.
“Nobody can replace him. But we will have to move on. A guy like him leaving, it feels a bit weird. It is a situation that we have to accept. I wish him nothing but the best. I believe he is one of the best players or the best player that I have ever played with.”
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