Looking to get one over on London rivals Chelsea, Crystal Palace are now reportedly keen to hijack the Blues’ chase to sign an impressive Ligue 1 defender who has been compared to Dayot Upamecano.
Crystal Palace keen to hijack Doukoure chase
According to The Boot Room, Crystal Palace are now keen to hijack Chelsea’s chase to sign Ismael Doukoure this summer. The Strasbourg defender enjoyed an excellent season in France and, at 21 years old, is attracting plenty of interest from across Europe. Given that Marc Guehi has been the subject of several exit rumours at Selhurst Park too, a move for the Strasbourg man would certainly make sense for Palace.
U23 scout Antonio Mango went as far as to describe Doukoure as “magnificent” in 2023, whilst scout Jacek Kulig compared the defender to Bayern Munich’s Upamencao in incredibly high praise, praising his pace, anticipation and aerial ability.
| League stats 24/25 (via FBref) | Ismael Doukoure | Dayot Upamecano |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 2,639 | 1,759 |
| Progressive Carries | 20 | 17 |
| Tackles Won | 22 | 22 |
| Aerial Duel Win Percentage | 61.9% | 58.4% |
Kulig’s comparison certainly makes sense. When compared, Doukoure kept up with Upamecano in possession – albeit having played more minutes – and impressively outperformed him in the air.
Also matching his fellow Frenchman for tackles won, Doukoure will be desperate to follow a similar path to the top as Upamecano and that could first feature a move to the Premier League courtesy of Crystal Palace.
