---
title: "Kouame was ‘sold to Palace’ but ligament injury halted the move"
canonical: "https://readcrystalpalace.com/2020/02/13/kouame-was-sold-to-palace-but-ligament-injury-halted-the-move/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Abdullah Mulla"
section: "Articles"
published: "2020-02-13T12:30:00Z"
modified: "2020-02-13T12:30:00Z"
---

# Kouame was ‘sold to Palace’ but ligament injury halted the move

Striker Christian Kouame was virtually a Crystal Palace player before a cruciate ligament injury intervened, according to a report on [CalcioNews24](https://www.calcionews24.com/fiorentina-prade-svela-kouame-era-gia-del-crystal-palace-infortunio-ha-cambiato-tutto/).

The 22-year-old was[set for a €25m move](https://www.football-italia.net/146498/kouame-was-set-crystal-palace) to Selhurst Park in the January transfer window but suffered an ACL injury, resulting in the move breaking down.

Kouame eventually secured a [loan move to Fiorentina](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/kouame-fiorentina-sign-genoas-ivorian-striker-on-loan/13miiz8s1pz2a1fbzydgeib1tt) from Genoa and the Serie A club have the option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season.

[Speaking at a recent press conference, as transcribed by CalcioNews24](https://www.calcionews24.com/fiorentina-prade-svela-kouame-era-gia-del-crystal-palace-infortunio-ha-cambiato-tutto/), Fiorentina’s sporting director Daniele Prade, said:

> The conversation with Kouame comes from afar, he was at the Citadel, I was at Sampdoria. Against us, the first leg was devastating.
>
> Christian had already been sold to Crystal Palace, the injury stopped everything and we took the ball. A decision taken by mutual agreement with the president.

### READ CRYSTAL PALACE VERDICT

[Prade confirmed](https://www.calcionews24.com/fiorentina-prade-svela-kouame-era-gia-del-crystal-palace-infortunio-ha-cambiato-tutto/) that Kouame isn’t expected to be back on the pitch until April so maybe it’s a blessing in disguise that Palace did not end up signing the forward.

Before his injury earlier this season, the Ivory Coast international scored five times in 11 Serie A appearances ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/christian-kouame/leistungsdaten/spieler/337725)) which shows that he has an eye for goal – something that Palace boss Roy[Hodgson is desperate for.](https://readcrystalpalace.com/2020/02/08/hodgson-bemoans-palaces-lack-of-goals-this-season/)

His [record shows](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/christian-kouame/leistungsdaten/spieler/337725) that he is undoubtedly talented in front of goal but with his long-term injury, he may not have even featured once for the Eagles this season.

For such a high price, we believe signing an injured player is a big risk and with Palace currently in [a relegation battle](https://www.premierleague.com/tables), it was ultimately one they were not willing to make during the January window.