For quite a while, Crystal Palace were pretty calm on the transfer market, did not spend money like most of the Premier League teams. However, yesterday they threw the hook and caught the big fish. The latest addition to the south London club is Cheick Doucoure, former midfielder of RC Lens.Palace paid 21 million euros to the French club for the services of the 22-year-old footballer from Mali and the transfer could increase to 26 million euros with bonuses. Counting only the fixed part of the compensation, Doucoure is the fourth most expensive signing in the history of Palace. Only three were paid more by the London club: Christian Benteke (31.2 million euros), Mamadou Sakho (28.2 million) and Marc Guehi (23.3 million).##NAJAVA_MECA_6502026##On the other hand, Lens has never sold a player for more money in history. Until yesterday, the record was held by Loic Bade, who was sold to Rennes last year for 17 million euros. Doucoure’s record could become even more lonely at the top, given that Lens secured another 15 percent from the player’s next sale. This is the main reason why it took so long for this year’s main target of Palace to sign. Cheick was the priority of the coach of the English club Patrick Vieira, Lens hesitated because of the compensation and after several weeks of negotiations, the two sides found a solution.Doucoure, who has signed a five-year contract with Palace, is expected to replace Cheikhou Kouyate at Selhurst Park, whose contract expired at the start of July and as things stand the Eagles will not offer him an extension. Therefore, the role of the ‘number six’ awaits the Malian, the same one he played in Lens, to interrupt the opponent’s attacks and distribute the ball to more offensive, more technically trained teammates, taking the burden of the defense off them.Welcome to Palace, Cheick Doucouré ❤️💙#CPFC— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 11, 2022 The Malian representative arrived in Lens four and a half years ago from Real Bamako, a club from his homeland known for sending out quality midfielders (Yves Bissouma, Amadou Haidara, Diadie Samassekou). Doucoure made 131 appearances for the French club, scoring eight and setting up seven goals.Palace brought in two players this summer ahead of Doucoure, both without compensation: West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and Derby County’s Malcolm Ebiowei.
