Why Crystal Palace could benefit by signing this 28-year-old West Ham powerhouse

The Eagles could soar higher with Kouyate in the squad

West Ham United are well prepared for their opening day clash against Liverpool. New manager Manuel Pellegrini has pulled off a mass exodus at the club which saw seven new players come in.

The former Manchester City manager used his managerial prowess to attract a number of high-profile players to the club. The Hammers faithful can now expect to witness some high octane football at the London Stadium next season.

The manager is not yet done with his business and is going to have to sell a few stars after spending in excess of £90million already. A number of players have been linked with exits from the club and one of the latest players seems to be Cheikhou Kouyate.

Crystal Palace have been linked with the player over the last few days. Roy Hodgson is reportedly interested in signing the Senegalese international after he impressed for both club and country over the last year.

The Hammers are willing to let go of their midfielder but only for a fee of £10million. He has three years left on his West Ham contract, which means the Hammers can sit tight and name their price.

Kouyate made the move to West Ham United in the summer of 2014 from Belgian outfit Anderlecht after making a total of 153 appearances and scoring 4 goals.

He has since gone on to become a peripheral figure at the London Stadium, nailing down a regular role in the middle of the park for the Hammers. The Senegalese international has made a total of 129 Premier League appearances for the club, scoring 12 goals and providing 7 assists.

The 28-year-old was a regular feature under David Moyes last season, making a total of 33 appearances in the league, scoring 2 goals and providing 3 assists. His impressive performances for the Hammers saw the midfielder earn a spot in Senegal’s national team that won hearts at the World Cup in Russia.

He is generally deployed as a defensive midfielder but is also capable of playing as a centre-back. Kouyate brings energy and stability to the middle of the park with his tireless work rate on and off the ball.

Read more: Why Crystal Palace ahead of Bournemouth could be the ideal destination for this £8m-rated attacker

He’s also very strong in the air, which allows him to nullify long balls and bring it under control. The 28-year-old’s defensive contribution is excellent as well, averaging a total of 2.2 tackles per game last season.

Kouyate would be a great addition for the Eagles, given that Cabaye is now entering the final few years of his career. The midfield would bring considerable depth and strength to the Palace side. Palace were heavily reliant on a handful of players to produce the goods last season but with Kouyate offering cover in the middle of the park, the Eagles could soar higher this season.