Crystal Palace 'looking at' bringing £15m star to Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace ‘are looking at’ RC Lens midfielder Cheick Doucoure ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, according to The Sun journalist Tom Barclay.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a switch to Selhurst Park in recent days after being personally scouted by manager Patrick Vieira ahead of a potential move.

According to The Sun, Palace are ‘closing in’ on the signature of Doucoure, who is expected to cost in the region of £15 million following an outstanding campaign in Ligue 1.

The Daily Mail (via GOAL) have claimed that the Mali international is ‘a priority’ for the south London outfit and that Vieira recently met with the player’s agent to discuss the possibility of a transfer.

It’s claimed that reports in France then revealed that Palace had made a £10m bid for Doucoure, who has been described as “incredible, but Lens are holding out for a fee between €15m and €18m (£12.7m and £15.3m).

And the Mail also disclosed how Aston Villa held talks with the Lens last summer and were expected to make a fresh approach until Palace moved into pole position for the defensive-minded dynamo.

The capital club are believed to have identified Doucoure as a cheaper alternative to Ajax star Edson Alvarez, who is said to have a £35m price tag.

Vieira is currently in the midst of an overhaul of Palace’s first-team squad after inheriting the oldest side in the Premier League fewer than 12 months ago.

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And Barclay believes that Doucoure is a player on the Eagles’ radar as a new holding midfielder is a position that they ‘may well look to recruit’ in this summer.

He told GiveMeSport: “I think he is one of the players