Crystal Palace field Afcon winner, 20, to bolster deliberate attack
IVORY COAST striker Oumar Diakite is followed by Crystal Palace.
Dougie Freedman saw 20-year-old Diakite score for French club Reims against Paris Saint-Germain last week.
The Eagles were hoping to sign Marseille’s Iliman Ndiaye from Senegal at the second attempt, but he is now in Ligue 1 and in no rush to leave.
Diakite could be a perfect alternative after a difficult time at RB Salzburg.
After 18 months in Austria, where he failed to make a first-team appearance, Diakite came to Reims last summer.
He has since shown flashes of form, scoring 23 goals in 35 appearances for Salzburg’s second team.
His goal against PSG last weekend took his tally to four, with Diakite also providing an assist in a 2-2 draw in Paris.
Meanwhile, he has also won ten caps for African champions Ivory Coast since his debut in September.
Five of those appearances came when the Elephants won the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in February.
Palace’s interest comes after they were linked with a summer move for Ndiaye last month.
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The former Sheffield United playmaker was the Eagles’ top target for next season.
However, Ndiaye has started all six of Marseille’s Ligue 1 matches since returning from AFCON.
He also scored twice and provided an assist in those matches, which now included a three-match winning streak.