Crystal Palace are reportedly moving closer to securing the signature of one of France’s brightest young prospects, with Angers forward Sidiki Cherif now the subject of an official opening bid from the Premier League club.
Oliver Glasner has watched his Palace side struggle for momentum in recent weeks, both in the league and after exits from the domestic cups in quick succession. Fresh additions are viewed as a way to reignite their campaign and provide a lift during a difficult spell.
The Eagles have already invested heavily by bringing in Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth around £35 million, and the potential arrival of Cherif would further strengthen their attacking options.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Palace have submitted their first formal offer to Angers for the highly rated Guinea-born striker. The south London club are understood to be keen on pushing the deal through and have already made significant progress behind the scenes.
Reports earlier in the week suggested personal terms had been agreed with the player, and that process has now advanced with an official proposal sent to Angers. The offer is believed to be worth in the region of €20 million, including add-ons, with negotiations between the two clubs now ongoing.
While Palace already have Jean-Philippe Mateta leading the line, backup options such as Eddie Nketiah and Christantus Uche have struggled to make a consistent impact. That has increased the appeal of adding another forward capable of offering more cutting edge in attack.
With Palace competing in the Europa Conference League play-offs following last season’s FA Cup triumph, adding depth and quality to the squad is seen as essential if the club are to remain competitive on multiple fronts.
The Eagles have regularly had to fend off interest in key players, with Marc Guehi the latest name linked with a move away amid reported interest from Manchester City. In recent years, Palace have also seen high-profile departures including Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, while Adam Wharton continues to attract attention from elite clubs.
Bringing in a talent like Cherif could help offset those losses and strengthen Palace’s long-term planning. At a reported fee of around £17 million, the move also carries the potential for significant future value if the youngster adapts quickly to life in the Premier League.