Crystal Palace are reportedly already looking to the summer transfer window, as the Eagles eye Stade Reims striker Oumar Diakite.
Crystal Palace will hope to end the campaign on a high after playing out a season of change at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles have struggled to build form throughout the 2023/24 calendar, with a managerial change happening once more mid-season, as Oliver Glasner replaced Roy Hodgson last month.
It’s been an encouraging start for the Austrian, who has seen his side achieve a win, a draw and a defeat in his opening three games as boss, with change already notable in the early days of his tenure.
Now, it’s rumoured that Glasner could already be on the hunt for improvements in his squad, with Palace linked to a rising forward that could bolster their front line in the summer.
Crystal Palace interested in Ivory Coast striker Oumar Diakite
As reported by journalist Alan Nixon, Palace are said to be admirers of Stade Reims striker Oumar Diakite ahead of the summer transfer window.
Nixon claims that sporting director Dougie Freedman recently watched the 20-year-old in action against PSG, where he netted a goal in Reims’ 2-2 draw with the Ligue 1 giants.
“Crystal Palace are on the trail of Reims and Ivory Coast attacker Oumar Diakite.”
“Top spy Dougie Freedman watched Diakite, 20, score against leaders PSG last week and is firmly in the Eagles radar.”
It was only in the summer of 2023 that Reims signed Diakite as a teen from Red Bull Salzburg, with his talents costing a mere base fee of €2.5m (£2m).
Who is Oumar Diakite and what could he offer to Crystal Palace?
Lauded as a “lightning quick” asset in attack by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Ivory Coast international is a strong figure to have in the front line.
With four goals and one assist in only nine starts for Reims this season in Ligue 1, the 20-year-old is showing signs of how impressive he could become as his career continues to flourish at the top level.
Last season, the youngster netted nine goals and recorded four assists while on loan at Austrian 2 Liga club FC Liefering, hinting at what he could add to Glasner’s front line if the Eagles were to secure his signature.
U23 Scout, Mango, pinpointed the areas in which the Ivorian forward is most potent, highlighting his pace, ‘natural instinct’ in front of goal and ‘clinical technical ability’ as his strong points.
Only time will tell if Reims will be willing to let their signing from last summer leave so soon, with early indications suggesting that Diakite could be an impressive acquisition for Palace to target.
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