Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Orlando City striker Daryl Dike but are put off by his £18 million transfer valuation.
According to a report from The Sun, Crystal Palace remain keen on making a move for Orlando City and USMNT centre-forward Daryl Dike but are reluctant to meet his £18 million price tag.
Dike has been on the radars of Crystal Palace since the summer following an impressive loan spell with EFL Championship outfit Barnsley in the second half of the 2020/21 season. The 21-year-old played a key role in the Tykes securing a playoff spot finish in the last season, although he was unable to lead them to promotion.
Back to his parent club, MLS outfit Orlando City at the end of the season, Dike has started the new season in the United States on a strong note, bagging three goals and an assist in eight games so far. His performances while on loan with Barnsley were enough for Palace to take an interest in the striker.
And, the Eagles are now keen on making a swoop for the 21-year-old, although it is not clear whether they plan to move for him in January or at the end of the season. New manager Patrick Vieira is said to be keen on adding another potent goalscorer to his ranks, which is understandable considering the likes of Christian Benteke and Jordan Ayew haven’t exactly been consistent in front of goal.
Odsonne Edouard was brought in to address the issue in the summer from Scottish giants Celtic and the Frenchman has made a decent start to life in Croydon. However, another source of goals would not go amiss for Crystal Palace as they look to better their performances from the season gone by in the Premier League.
Dike, to that end, has emerged as a top target, with Vieira’s scouting team identifying him as a viable option. The 21-year-old, who has broken into the USMNT side as well, is valued at £18 million by Orlando City, which becomes a problem for the Premier League outfit, as they are reluctant to shell out such sum on a player who they see as a backup option that is developed at the club and not an immediate starter.
With Dike also attracting interest from fellow Premier League club Leeds United, Palace will need to act quickly if they are to land the 21-year-old. The £18 million price tag, however, continues to remain a hurdle and it will be interesting to see if the two clubs are able to reach a compromise.
