On Wednesday, Crystal Palace were reported by Sky Sports to have made an offer of around €18m for Lille’s Ibrahim Amadou, news later confirmed by Mohamed Bouhafsi and RMC Sport.
However, with the Ligue 1 club asking for at least €20m for their versatile star, the Eagles’ offer has been put on hold for now, but there’s only so long they’ll be able to do that for.
That’s what local newspaper La Voix du Nord reported later on in the day, as they explain Lille’s need to bring in around €25m will eventually force them to say yes to an offer.
The plan here would be to make Crystal Palace sweat a bit, and there’s every chance Gerard Lopez, the club’s owner, will hold onto their bid in hope that clubs like Southampton and Stoke come forward with more money.
Both the Saints and the Potters have been reported as being interested, but are yet to come forward with an offer of their own.
One thing appears certain, however, and that’s Amadou eventually making it to the Premier League in the coming weeks.
With few players in their squad capable of bringing in such a figure, La Voix du Nord state cashing in on Amadou seems ‘inevitable’.
