Stoke City and Crystal Palace are watching Nantes’ Senegal international centre-back Papy Djilobodji who could be on the move in the January transfer window.
The Potters and the Eagles were among five Premier League clubs to send scouts to Nantes’ Ligue 1 match against Toulouse on Saturday as rumours in France go into overdrive ahead of the winter break.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City were also represented but the subject of their interest in the match may lie elsewhere.
Djilobodji, 25, is a tough-tackling central defender who has picked up a recent spate of red and yellow cards after a previously exemplary record.
He was booked in the first half of his side’s 2-1 home defeat to Toulouse on Saturday, but struck Les Canaris’ late goal as they threatened a comeback.
Palace boss Tony Pulis is on the look-out for a dominating centre-back to help his side in their relegation dogfight and could go up against his former club Stoke City if they decide they like the look of Djilobodji.
Pulis has worked with a number of Senegal internationals in the past and once had five players from the West African nation on the books at the Britannia Stadium.
He still has good contacts with agents from the country and will know all about Djilobodji who has two Senegal caps and played in their World Cup qualifying play-off defeat to Ivory Coast last month.
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