Crystal Palace have agreed to pay a fee of around €3m to Marseille for their skipper Steve Mandanda, reports French newspaper L’Equipe.
It is reported Mandanda is likely to join his national teammate Yohan Cabaye at Palace should both parties agree on personal terms. The 31-year-old is currently on international duty at the Euros in his homeland, after which he is expected to make decision on his future.
The French international has been linked to several Turkish clubs, Everton, and Liverpool in the past few months, and has always maintained he’d want to sign for a club in England or Spain.
Earlier this week L’Equipe said a move to England or Spain would be a dream for the Marseille hero. A move to Crystal Palace should be tempting, if no other clubs in the Premier League make an offer for him.
The Marseille skipper was in top form last season, and often bailed out his side. There has been some disagreement about the player’s contract status, with him making it clear he feels he’s free to leave.
There was a clause which allowed Mandanda an exit this summer if Marseille failed to qualify for European football, but there’s been disagreement on when that failure had to happen.
It’d be no surprise if Crystal Palace are paying the money to smooth and quicken a deal, and push themselves ahead of other clubs like Everton.
