Crystal Palace enquire about Atalanta defender Odilon Kossounou | OneFootball

Crystal Palace are eyeing a move for Atalanta defender Odilon Kossounou and have made enquiries about signing him, according to TuttoAtalanta.

The Eagles are looking for a new centre-half after giving up their pursuit of Chrislain Matsima and have turned to the Ivorian international.

Palace have sold Maxence Lacroix and could use another defender in the ranks before the start of the season.

The South London club are close to sealing a deal for Raphael Le Guen, but he is a youngster with barely any experience at the senior level.

Palace have now turned to Kossounou, who did not have the best second season in Italy due to injuries after a stellar debut campaign in which he took the league by storm.

Kossounou is quite the physical specimen. He is 6ft3 and very imposing, which allows him to outmuscle opponents. Most times, he hovers and smothers them.

Besides, he is versatile enough to operate in a three- or four-man backline.

While Palace are yet to send an official offer, they are clearly interested and preparing to make ‘concrete moves’.

Palace should not go ahead with a move for Kossounou

There is no doubting Kossounou’s quality when he is fit. At his best, he is an athletic and composed defender capable of thriving in the Premier League.

However, Crystal Palace need to think carefully before committing significant money to a player whose fitness record has become a major concern.

Injuries have disrupted crucial periods of each of the last two seasons, preventing him from building any real momentum and raising legitimate questions over his long-term reliability.

For a club that cannot afford expensive recruitment mistakes, that is a considerable gamble.

Palace need defenders who are available week after week, not players who could spend extended spells on the treatment table.

Kossounou has the talent to succeed, but his recent injury history should be enough for the Eagles to walk away from this deal.