Crystal Palace expected to give up on El Hadji Malick Diouf deal after £12.5m bid fails | OneFootball

Slavia Prague do not expect the Eagles to return with an improved offer as they look to sign a new left wing-back this month

Slavia Prague do not expect Crystal Palace to continue pursuing a deal for El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Last week the Czech top-flight leaders rejected a bid from Palace worth £12.5million for the 20-year-old left wing-back, who is being tracked by a host of clubs from the Premier League and elsewhere in Europe.

But Diouf has been the Eagles’ priority target at left wing-back. While Palace are unwilling to match Slavia’s £20m valuation of the player, they could still surprise and return with an improved offer.

Target: Crystal Palace want to sign Slavia Prague and Senegal star El Hadji Malick Diouf this month

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Diouf is expected to leave Slavia either this month or in the summer, earning them a healthy profit on the £2.1m they paid to sign him from Norwegian outfit Tromso last January. The Senegal international’s current deal at Slavia runs until 2028 and does not contain a release clause.

Tyrick Mitchell is currently Palace’s only left-sided full-back, and the left wing-back position is one of the Eagles’ two priority positions they intend to strengthen this month. They want Mitchell to face greater competition for his place.

Palace endured a poor start to their first full season under manager Oliver Glasner, but an improved record of just one defeat in their last nine games has seen them rise up the Premier League table into 15th place.