Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Vitoria Guimaraes defender Abdul Mumin as new manager Patrick Vieira looks to complete the overhaul of his first-team squad.

What's the story?

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (as relayed by Sport Witness), the Eagles have recently been scouting the highly-rated 23-year-old ahead of a potential move.

The report states that: "Several clubs have been sending scouts to watch him in action for Vitória, where he’s been impressing since joining the club last year.

"Crystal Palace are said to be one of those who recently ‘made sure’ to send an official and get more information on the athlete, as they study an ‘eventual’ attempt for the signing."

However, the south London outfit are expected to face stiff competition for Mumin's signature, with fellow Premier League sides Leicester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur all credited with an interest.

Vieira needs him

The 6 foot 2 beast only arrived at Guimaraes in August 2020 from Danish side Nordsjaelland - who are renowned for producing several top young talents - but he's already made a big impression.

In his 25 top-flight outings last term, Mumin averaged a whopping 3.8 clearances, the second-highest total amongst his teammates, as well as 0.7 tackles and 0.7 interceptions, as per WhoScored.

During his short career, the Ghanaian has shown glimpses of his top-class potential, and with a market value of just £1.8m, he could be a bargain addition to Vieira's relatively threadbare squad.

Currently, only veteran centre-back James Tomkins is a natural backup to the first-choice pairing of Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi, meaning Palace will need added reinforcements at the heart of defence over the coming transfer windows.

Therefore, director of football Steve Parish must sanction a swoop for the defender, providing Vieira with a plethora of options along his backline.

Mumin may not be a household name or a popular choice amongst the fanbase, but he would certainly be a value for money signing, leaving plenty of room in the capital club's budget for further acquisitions.

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