FA Cup winners Crystal Palace are set to face a challenge to keep England midfielder Adam Wharton at the club this summer but have already targeted Lens’ Andy Diouf to replace him.
The 22-year-old Frenchman has been lined up to succeed Wharton, who has been linked with several Premier League and European clubs in recent months, including English champions Liverpool.
Diouf made 34 appearances for Lens in the 2024/25 season as they finished eighth in Ligue 1 under new Southampton manager Will Still and is now being chased by the Eagles, as reported by journalist Alan Nixon.
Palace interested in former PSG midfielder
Manager Oliver Glasner is already preparing for the departure of Wharton and Diouf has been highlighted as a player who could be brought in as a replacement.
The 6ft 2in central midfielder spent three years in Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain’s academy before making his professional debut for Rennes and subsequently moving on loan to Swiss side Basel.
He then signed for Lens in the summer of 2023 on a five-year deal and featured at last year’s Olympics with the French squad.
He played 37 times in all competitions for ‘Les Sang et Or’ (The Blood and Gold) last season, scoring once and assisting twice whilst playing mostly in a central midfield pairing in a 3-4-1-2 formation, although he occasionally featured as a number 10 as well.
Although Palace are yet to accept any offers for Wharton, it would be a surprise to see him at Selhurst Park next season given his rise in the game since joining from Blackburn Rovers in February 2024, which saw him named in England’s squad for Euro 2024.
How similar are the two players?
Under Glasner, Wharton has played almost exclusively in a midfield pair, similar to Diouf’s position at Lens.
However, the Frenchman generally plays a more advanced role than his English counterpart, who likes to create chances from deep with his passing ability.
Diouf prefers to carry the ball forward himself (3.32 progressive carries per 90) and take on defenders (1.74 successful take-ons).
Wharton excels in shot-creating actions (4.03), expected assists (0.2), progressive passes (7.31) and interceptions (1.37), beating Diouf in all of these areas. The latter’s stats for these categories drop to 3.44, 0.11, 4.69 and 0.61 respectively.
Therefore, it is clear that, although they have played in similar starting positions, they have different play styles and specific strengths which vary between each other.
Wharton’s midfield partner Daichi Kamada already performs a Diouf-like role for the Eagles, operating in a more advanced area, where he receives progressive passes and carries the ball himself.
As a result, Diouf may have to alter his game to fit into the Wharton role, unless Palace end up bringing in another player who can play a deeper role and distribute the ball similarly to the Englishman.
How much would a deal cost the Eagles?
Diouf’s current transfer value, according to Transfermarkt, is £12.8 million and Lens would likely command a higher fee for the 22-year-old given he has three years remaining on his contract.
However, Palace may be able to seal a deal for relatively cheap due to the French side missing out on qualification for European competitions next season with their eighth-placed finish in the league.
Diouf would likely want to move to a club competing in Europe next season and, with Palace’s FA Cup win securing them a place in the Europa Conference League, would be given that opportunity if he moved to South London.
Overall, a move for the Frenchman would seem to be a good deal, as long as Palace find a way to replace Wharton’s passing ability.