At a glance:
- Crystal Palace eyeing Lens’ Sangare
- Chelsea one of several clubs providing competition
- A new midfielder could be a priority this summer
A potential Crystal Palace pursuit of Mamadou Sangare is reportedly under threat, as Chelsea have joined the race for the midfielder.
The last few months have been a rollercoaster for Oliver Glasner and his team, with key players linked with moves away from Selhurst Park. With so much speculation, the South London side has now set its sights on new talent to help build for the future.
With the transfer window opening in a few months, Palace’s summer target has attracted interest across the Premier League. Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, and West Ham United are also now weighing up offers for the RC Lens midfielder.
The bigger picture
Africa Foot reports that Lens will listen to offers for the 23-year-old midfielder, whose contract expires in 2030. He looks likely to leave the French club, with interest in him growing from clubs in England.
Palace have lost key players in the past two transfer windows, which have affected their performance as they sit 13th in the Premier League. But interest in Sangare certainly shows that the club is looking ahead.
To grab the attention of European talent, Glasner’s men might need to win the Europa Conference League to remain in Europe next season. There is already talk of Adam Wharton potentially leaving in a big-money move this summer, which further raises the need for a new midfielder.
| Mamadou Sangare (Ligue 1 2025-26) | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 30 |
| Goals: | 2 |
| Assists: | 2 |
| Interceptions: | 1.4 |
| Tackles per game: | 3.2 |
| Possession won (final third): | 0.9 |
| Ground duels won: | 5.8 (56%) |
| Aerial duels won: | 1.0 (55%) |
According to sources, the midfielder’s transfer fee is between €10 million and €15.5 million, which is more than reasonable. Additionally, the Eagles would be the right club for the Malian international to gain game time and understand the Premier League.
The Sangare story
Sangare, who is just 23 years old, spent most of his playing time in the Austrian Bundesliga before moving to France. His physical ability, along with high pressing, makes him perfect for the English game.
The youngster spent time on loan across Austria and even had a brief stint in the Belgian Pro League with Zulte Waregem during the 2022-2023 season. This season has been a breakthrough for the Malian midfielder, who has made 22 appearances in the French side’s 25 league games. Sangare has helped his side keep title hopes alive as Lens sit in second place, just one point behind Paris Saint-Germain.
With two goals and two assists this campaign, his ability in front of the goal has also been established. Moreover, his ability to tackle and high press shows that the youngster is a perfect package.
