Crystal Palace has entered the race alongside AFC Bournemouth and Brentford to scout Toulouse striker Thijs Dallinga, who has been in impressive form during the current season in France’s Ligue 1. When a striker catches the attention of Premier League clubs due to their good form, questions often arise about their ability to adapt to English football. In the case of Thijs Dallinga, he has proven his potential with a couple of Europa League goals against Liverpool, including in Toulouse’s recent 3-2 victory over the seven-time European champions.
The 23-year-old Dutchman, recently called up to the senior Netherlands squad, has netted seven goals in 16 appearances, leaving scouts from Bournemouth, Brentford, and Crystal Palace all “impressed.” Dallinga’s success is not limited to this season; he is on track to match his previous season’s tally of 18 goals. In the 2021/22 season, he scored an impressive 36 goals for Excelsior, leading to his move to France based on his outstanding performances in the Dutch second tier.
According to Marinus Dijkhuizen, Dallinga’s former coach at Excelsior and former Brentford boss, the striker is a “complete striker” with immense potential, though the speed of his rise was unexpected. Feyenoord legend Mario Been also praised Dallinga’s physical presence and intelligent movement, particularly evident in his performances against Liverpool in the Europa League.
Crystal Palace, currently averaging only one goal per game in the Premier League, is keen on bolstering its attacking options. Despite a strong start from Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta in August, their goal-scoring pace has significantly slowed down. Meanwhile, Brentford is exploring potential replacements for Ivan Toney, with Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi emerging as another option for a potential £100 million-rated England international.
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