Crystal Palace linked with USMNT forward

As one of the lower-scoring clubs in the Premier League over the last few years, it’s clear that Crystal Palace need additional firepower. The introduction of Odsonne Edouard from Glasgow Celtic should help with that. The France U21 cap was a stellar performer for the Bhoys, before a final season where player and team alike fell from grace. However, despite the likes of Wilf Zaha still being at the club as well, there are worries that the Eagles front line lacks depth to survive the season.

That is why links to USMNT forward Daryl Dike are so interesting. The 21-year-old has been heavily linked with the Premier League for some time, and Palace are believed to be among the most serious buyers. So far this season, the player has scored three goals in just six appearances in MLS, as well as setting up a goal for a teammate. Playing through the middle primarily, he offers a different kind of option to the forwards already present at Palace.

He isn’t a target man in the style of Christian Benteke, nor is he the kind of link-man that Edouard can promise to be. He is, though, a fantastic finisher with both feet and with his head. He can link up with teammates, use his pace to hurt teams on the break, and offers a fine attacking presence. On top of that, his ability to link play and win flick-ons makes him a good option for a Palace team that has to be better in scoring second chance opportunities.

Seen as one for the future as well as for the present, Palace are expected to make a move for Dike when the January window opens. By that point, the player will have likely further enhanced his reputation.

Palace miss out on Arsenal striker at last minute

The need for a third striker has been a common talking point for Eagles fans for most of the summer. The arrival of Eddie Nketiah was teased for much of the month of August, and the player was believed to be close to a deal worth as much as £20m to join Palace. However, the deal fell through at the end of the window and Nketiah now enters the final year of his deal.

While he would offer an intriguing option off the bench, the England striker is yet to really show his youth level potential in the senior game. His time at Leeds United was a waste of time, and he has done precious little for Arsenal in a first-team sense. As such, would the move for Nketiah have been a success? It is hard to say.

With minutes up top likely divided between Edouard and Benteke until January, the England man might have had precious few opportunities to play here. The arrival of someone who is more in-form and has shown a level of competence at senior standard in Dyke might make more sense for an Eagles side looking to be smarter in the transfer market.