Crystal Palace’s summer plans were said to be made this week and now a striker has been linked with making the move to Selhurst Park.
Oliver Glasner was a real coup for Crystal Palace, to get a Europa League-winning manager while in the precarious position which Roy Hodgson left us in was impressive.
However, the appointment likely means that there will be real pressure on the club and Dougie Freedman and Steve Parish particularly to recruit well to give Glasner a squad up to scratch.
One position which has already been pinpointed seems to be the striker role, which has only risen in priority after Odsonne Edouard picked up an injury in Marbella, which signifies his unreliability.
But now Palace have been linked with a 20-year-old talent who could be a shrewd pick-up…
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Oumar Diakite to Crystal Palace
According to Edmund Brack writing for the South London Press, Oumar Diakite has emerged as a prime target this summer for Palace.
The Ivory Coast international has been the focus of scouting trips from the Eagles as they look to improve this summer in the striking department.
He is viewed as an ideal replacement for Edouard who is entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and shows little reason to extend beyond that.
The 26-year-old has been struggling this season and bringing in an exciting talent like Diakite could be a good move from the Palace decision-makers.
Not to mention Diakite has an Austrian link having played for RB Salzburg in his career which could mean this is a Glasner-backed signing.
Who is Crystal Palace target Oumar Diakite?
Diakite is a 20-year-old Ivory Coast international who displayed heroics during AFCON with a 122rd-minute goal to put his nation past Mali, despite a 123rd-minute red card.
Currently playing for Stade Reims in Ligue 1, Diakite has four goals and an assist in 19 games this season but hasn’t been a regular starter.
He’s only in his first season in France having joined from RB Salzburg in Austria where he also played for FC Liefering, it was here he had his biggest success with 12 goals and 11 assists in 35 games.
Despite being just 20, Diakite already has 10 caps for his nation and still has a long way to go in his development which could see him become a star player, but he wouldn’t arrive as an instant first choice.
Oumar Diakite player profile
- Full name: Oumar Diakite
- Age: 20
- Height: 1.82 m (5 ft 9 in)
- Nationality: Ivory Coast
- Date of birth: 20th December 2003
- Place of birth: Bingerville, Ivory Coast
- Contract until: June 2028
- Position: Striker
- Club: Stade Reims
