Crystal Palace are interested in Orlando City star Daryl Dike but will need to wait until 2022 to make their move.
According to South London News, Crystal Palace are impressed with United States international Daryl Dike, who spent last season on loan at Championship side Barnsley.
The 21-year-old who plays as a centre-forward scored nine goals in 19 appearances for the Tykes. It helped Barnsley finish fifth, earning themselves a spot in the playoffs. Unfortunately, they fell short at the first obstacle against Swansea City, with Dike playing both games.
The striker is now back at Orlando City and has already scored twice in four appearances in the MLS this season. A player with great promise, Palace will, however, have to wait to make a move for the player.
The MLS transfer window shut on August 5, and Dike will now stay put at Orlando until 2022. Palace are currently in the market for a striker, and it remains to be seen if they will bring in one this summer or wait for Dike until next year.
The Eagles were keen on former Blackburn Rovers striker Adam Armstrong with the striker also keen to move to Selhurst Park. However, they were unable to match Southampton’s financial offer, and the player has since joined the St Marys outfit.
Finding the back of the net has been a common issue for Palace in the last couple of years. The trio of Christian Benteke, Jordan Ayew and Jean-Philippe Mateta have had their moments but are far from the clinical goalscorer that the club needs. This has seen the club scour the market for reinforcements this summer.
Others on their radar include Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard, who is in the final year of his contract with the Scottish giants. Palace will be best served if they add Edouard this summer and bring in Dike next year. The American international can directly replace Mateta, whose loan will be up at the end of the current season.
The 24-year-old has failed to impress Selhurst Park and was pulled before the hour mark in their abject opening day defeat against Chelsea. The Frenchman’s time at the club could be numbered, and Dike could be a promising addition to Patrick Vieira’s new-look outfit.
Dike is an excellent finisher who could prove to be a trump card on counters. More so, his aerial prowess makes him an alternative to Benteke. Barnsley had the option to land 80% of the player’s rights for $20 million at the end of his loan spell last season. The Championship side refused and the player returned to the MLS. The Tykes’ loss could be Palace’s gain.
Initially, bringing him in on a loan deal will give the Premier League side a first-hand opportunity to assess his abilities. They could always make the deal permanent should he impress. After all, as we have seen with Mateta, not all that glitters is gold.