It is time to have an uncomfortable conversation about Cheick Doucoure.
The Crystal Palace No.28 has endured a nightmarish time with injuries ever since rupturing his Achilles during a 2-1 loss at Luton in November 2023, fighting hard to return, only to then tear his meniscus in January 2025 in a training session at Copers Cope.
Prior to these setbacks, the Mali international was the 2022/23 Player of the Season at Selhurst Park and a £50m target for Liverpool.
There remains some hope that Doucoure can find a way to return to these immense levels, but his displays in our recent friendlies against Swindon Town and Bromley have provided cause for concern.
How can Crystal Palace get the old Cheick Doucoure back? 🇲🇱
Crystal Palace may need to loan Cheick Doucoure out
Loaning the Malian out would have been unthinkable not too long ago.
However, the only way Doucoure is going to get back to his best is with regular playing time at a high level, which would hopefully allow his body to readjust to the rigours of professional football.
Obviously, there is a lot of pre-season still to come, but the man born in Bamako looked well out of his depth against Bromley for possibly the first time in his Crystal Palace career.
| Statistic | Value |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Shots on Target | 0 |
| Crosses | 0 |
| Dribbles | 1 |
| Passing | 27/36 (75%) |
| Possession Lost | 9 |
| Penalties Committed | 1 |
| Fouls Committed | 2 |
As you can see, Doucoure lost possession on nine occasions, and conceded the penalty for Bromley to score their second goal. It was also his careless pass which allowed Bromley to embark on the attack which led to the penalty in the first place, one of several misplaced balls, which was very unlike him.
Pierre Sage only has two slots in central midfield in his preferred 3-4-3 formation, which Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada will fill most weeks. Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma and Justin Devenny are also available as deputies.
Doucoure could spend the 2026/27 campaign rebuilding his body in youth games as he did towards the end of last season, but the intensity of these matches will never get close to the levels of senior football.
In that respect, it would make a lot of sense to send the 26-year-old on loan to a side in one of Europe’s top five leagues. A return to Ligue 1 would be preferable given his knowledge of the league from his time at RC Lens.
If Doucoure can regain his rhythm and stay out of the treatment room, then great. Crystal Palace should insert a recall clause in any potential loan, and look to reintegrate him as soon as it becomes clear his body can cope with regular football once again.
Do any of these players have a future under Pierre Sage?
It would be absolutely gutting if Doucoure never managed to get close to his former level, so hopefully, Crystal Palace can find a way to help the popular figure finally trust his body again.
