Crystal Palace Agree Terms With ‘Powerhouse’ French Youngster

Crystal Palace have agreed personal terms with 19-year-old Angers striker Sidiki Cherif ahead of a January move.

French youth international Cherif looks to be heading to Selhurst Park before the end of the window.

Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace side were linked to Cherif earlier this month.

And it now seems like the move will be completed, with reports from France indicating personal agreement has been reached.

Palace are keen to bolster their ranks in January, as they look to push on from last season’s FA Cup triumph.

An embarrassing third round shock against non-league Macclesfield has dumped them out of this year’s competition.

But they remain in contention for European football, and are through to the Conference League playoff round.

Selhurst Park is an attractive destination for young players at the moment, and it looks like another one is heading there soon.

Palace signed Brennan Johnson from Tottenham last week, and now have Cherif as their top target.

Crystal Palace Agree Terms With Sidiki Cherif

Wednesday’s reports from France claim Palace have reached an agreement with Cherif.

The 19-year-old striker has scored four goals in 17 Ligue 1 appearances this season.

Described as a ‘powerhouse’ player, Cherif is expected to become Angers’ record sale.

That would mean palace paying in excess of the £21.5 million Angers sold ex-Arsenal man Jeff-Reine Adelaide to Lyon for in 2019.

Cherif would become the latest in a long line of French-linked Palace players.

Current star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is the incumbent. But past stars include Yohan Cabaye and Michael Olise.

World Cup winner Patrick Viera has also managed the Eagles, further cementing their French familiarity.

Crystal Palace Continuing To Put Faith In Young Signings

Palace are known for their history of signing top young talents and turning them into stars.

Their transfer policy has always been to bring in promising youngsters and develop them.

In recent years, Adam Wharton, Marc Guehi, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze have all fit that bill.

And current players Yeremy Pino and Jaydee Convot look to be the next off the conveyor belt.

Nobody expects Cherif to turn up and oust Mateta from the starting lineup.

But if this young French attacker can learn and grow from his experienced countryman, Palace will have a ready-made replacement for when Mateta eventually departs.

And should Cherif hit the ground running, his acquisition may prove a masterstroke from Glasner and the Palace hierarchy.

Either way, they are signing a highly-rated young star with a big future and massive potential re-sale value in future.