- Palace join race for departing Spurs midfielder
- Facing competition from Brentford
- Bissouma’s off-pitch antics could disrupt Palace unity
Crystal Palace are reportedly considering a move for free-agent and former Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma, according to a report from Sportsboom.
Bissouma spent four seasons with Spurs after signing from Palace’s rivals Brighton for £25m, but is now a free agent after the expiration of his contract in North London.
If they are to bring Bissouma to Selhurst Park, Palace will reportedly face opposition from London rivals Brentford, who have also expressed interest in the signing.
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A cheap squad option
Palace will be keen to strengthen their squad ahead of another season with European football. Bissouma would add not only experience but also quality in depth too.
He was brilliant during his spell at Brighton, and carried that form to Spurs despite the club’s struggles in recent seasons.
Now, he sits on over 200 Premier League appearances and would bring a plethora of experience and also strengthen the depth of the midfield too.
Bissouma has been described by Spurs captain James Maddison as a ‘ridiculous player’, and at his best, he’d certainly add a level of quality to the Palace ranks.
If Palace don’t want to splash the cash after they flashed the money in January, exploring the free agent market is a smart move and could well pay dividends.
Potential issues
There are problems that arise with the suggestion of signing Bissouma. He was excluded from the Spurs squad on numerous occasions under Thomas Frank due to disciplinary issues.
Spurs’ reluctance to extend Bissouma’s deal may suggest the issues away from the pitch continue to impact the Mali international.
There have also been ongoing concerns around his conduct in his personal life, but Bissouma has proven that on his day he is still a strong Premier League midfielder.
The deal feels unlikely with the former links to Brighton and also Palace’s focus on personalities when recruiting.
A poor disciplinary record wouldn’t fit in with the current squad and that might be the downfall of any potentially move.
