Crystal Palace close to completing £18million deal for Cheick Doucoure

Crystal Palace are increasingly confident of signing Lens midfielder Cheick Doucoure from RC Lens in an £18million deal.

A Palace delegation was in France on Tuesday evening discussing further add-ons that would push the price towards £22m plus a sell-on clause.

The 22-year-old has been Palace's number one target this summer.

The Mali international is expected to sign a five-year deal with Patrick Viera's side after impressing the Palace manager with his displays for Lens last season as they finished seventh in Ligue 1 in their second season back in the top flight of French football.

Palace were rebuffed on their £14.5m opening bid last week but have upped their offer to meet Lens' valuation and are now closing in on their target.

Doucoure's Lens contract runs until 2024, so Lens are not being forced to sell, but the deal is too good for Franck Haise' side to turn down.

The midfielder made 34 appearances last season, chipping in with one goal and four assists as he formed an excellent midfield partnership with the in-demand Seko Fofana. 

In total he has made 134 appearances for Lens and has also been capped eight times by Mali at international level. 

Doucoure would signal the third arrival of the summer for Crystal Palace and Patrick Viera, who is looking to build on last season's comfortable 12th-placed league finish and FA Cup semi-final appearance.

They have already completed the signings of former Derby County winger Malcolm Ebiowei on a five-year deal and England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone on a free transfer.

The Eagles have also tied down stalwarts James McArthur and James Tomkins to one-year extensions.