Crystal Palace see second bid rejected for Ligue 1 defensive rock: is he worth a third one?

Premier League side Crystal Palace have seen both their bids for LOSC Lille defender Ibrahim Amadou, rejected by the French outfit this January.

Following the injuries to two key defenders in Mamadou Sakho and Scott Dann, head coach Roy Hodgson is apparently seeking some defensive reinforcements in the market with Ibrahim Amadou topping his list. However, the Eagles have so far been rebuffed in their efforts to sign the 24-year-old.

Although, that being said, the Premier League outfit could soon make another bid for the Frenchman, who is highly regarded as one of the best up and coming defenders in the French top flight this season.

Stemming from the youth academy of AS Nancy, Ibrahim Amadou’s impressive performance in the youth divisions earned him a move to LOSC Lille in the summer of 2015.

The Frenchman quickly made a name for himself at Lille, featuring in 22 games in his first season with the club, eventually helping the club seal Europa League football.

He became an even more crucial figure in the Lille backline, the following season, where he made a total of 35 appearances in the league. He played a total of 3,434 minutes, which was only bettered by right-back Sebastien Corchia.

This season, however, Ibrahim Amadou has become the leader of the pack under Christophe Gaultier. Even though the Great Danes are dawdling among the relegation candidates, Amadou has evolved as a much more reliable defender, who is definitely ready to take the next step in his career.

The 24-year-old would make a valuable addition to Crystal Palace, who have been decimated in the defensive department following the injury of Scott Dann, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Former Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho is also out with a calf injury.

Even though the Eagles have already brought in Polish centre-back Jaroslaw Jach from Zaglebie Lubin, Amadou’s experience coupled with his ability to lead the team could prove to be crucial for the Premier League outfit.

Largely known for his unmatched physical prowess, Amadou is a versatile defender, who can not only play as a centre-back but can also be deployed as a holding midfielder as well as a central midfielder, if necessary, which can prove to be very handy for head coach Roy Hodgson.

If Palace do make the last move for the highly-rated defender within these remaining days of the January transfer window, it will be a step in the right direction for the club. His versatility is likely to help prevail in the rigorous nature of the Premier League and who knows, he could possibly emerge as a real force in the Palace backline in the near future.