Andre Frank Anguissa is a dynamic midfielder.
According to The Sun (h/t Yorkshire Evening Post), Crystal Palace are keen on completing a deal for Fulham loanee Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. The 25-year-old has so far been one of the best players for Napoli this season but a move could be on the cards next summer if the Cottagers decide to offload him.
The midfielder has been quite the journeyman. After developing in Stade Reims, he moved to Marseille and started playing in the senior squad. In 2018, he sealed a move to Fulham but was later loaned out to Villarreal in the following season. That move ended after six months, and although he spent the last year and a half at Craven Cottage, Napoli offered to take him on loan this summer.
Will he leave the Championship club next summer? And would Patrick Vieira be making the right decision by signing him?
The Cameroonian international has made just 66 appearances for the west London side in the last three years. While he has not been able to produce quality moments in the Championship, he was one of their best players for the club in the Premier League last season.
This season, he has been pivotal for Napoli as he has featured in 10 out of their 12 games and the club are now sitting top of Serie A. In fact, his work in the midfield has also led to the Italian conceding only four goals in the league this season.
Thus, Patrick Vieira has several reasons for being interested in bringing the midfielder to South London. The French boss had a shaky start to life as a Premier League manager, but his side look settled now and cemented a place in the top half of the table over the weekend.
However, to keep up the same levels next season, Anguissa could prove to be vital. The London club brought in Conor Gallagher on loan this season, but the youngster could move back to Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign.
Moreover, Vieira took hold of a side that lost several experienced players over the summer, including James McCarthy, Scott Dan, Gary Cahill, Andros Townsend and a couple of others. Thus, the addition of the 25-year-old could certainly add some quality to the ranks, and if Napoli maintain the same performance levels, Palace could land a Serie A winning player.
The Cameroonian shall only have a year left on his current deal at Fulham once he returns from his loan spell in Naples. However, the Italian side also has the option to buy him at the end of the season as per a clause in his contract.
Palace could also find some lee-way in negotiations and orchestrate a fee lower than the £20million Fulham might want for the player.
The Former Nice manager took up a project few would have grabbed this summer but is now starting to build something incredible. He added talented youngsters like Michael Olise, Marc Guehi, Joachim Anderson before snapping up Odsonne Edouard from Celtic.
Thus, there is a need to add some experience into this squad, and an all-action box-to-box midfielder who would hit his professional peak soon could do wonders for the Selhurst Park outfit. Building upon good progress is the sign of any good club, and signing the 25-year-old could prove to be a statement of intent from Vieira and co.
