Crystal Palace Opinion: Why the Eagles should go all out for Mbaye Diagne?

According to a report from Turkish outlet Aksam, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Brighton are interested in signing striker Mbaye Diagne, who wants to leave Galatasaray this summer. (h/t Brighton and Hove Independent)

Diagne, 27, scored 21 goals for Kasimpasa in the first half of the previous campaign that earned him a move to Galatasaray in the January transfer window. He scored 10 times for his new side in the second half of the season, taking his total tally to 31 goals over the course of the 2018/19 campaign.

The Senegalese striker now wants to swap Turkey for England after firing Galatasaray to a second successive Ligue 1 title. With that in mind, Crystal Palace should beat their Premier League rivals to win Diagne’s signature this summer.

Scoring goals was Crystal Palace’s biggest problem last season, with none of their strikers living up to the expectations. Wilfried Zaha shouldered the responsibility of scoring goals once again and was fortunately helped by Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi and skipper Luca Milivojevic, whose majority of the goals came from spot-kicks, however.

Roy Hodgson is aware of his team’s struggles in front of goal and with Batshuayi having returned back to Chelsea, scoring could get even tougher if Zaha departs Selhurst Park this summer. So, holding onto the Ivorian plus adding a prolific goalscorer has to be Hodgson’s priority ahead of the new campaign and he’ll do a good job by landing Diagne.

At 27, Diagne has had spells in Hungary, France, Belgium, China and Turkey. The Senegal international has hardly stopped scoring over the course of past two campaigns, earning the opportunity to really establish himself in a top league.

Blessed with great pace, power and physicality, the 27-year-old excels in link-up play in and around the box. He is a fantastic finisher in front of goal and is equally adept at creating chances for his teammates. Due to his towering frame, Diagne uses his strength to outmuscle defenders in the box and score goals. He could give Palace a real threat in the air at both ends of the pitch.

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Palace shouldn’t hesitate in pursuing a deal to sign Diagne this summer, even though he lacks Premier League experience. He would support the likes of Zaha and Townsend in terms of scoring goals, whilst being a straight upgrade on Benteke.

Verdict

If Hodgson and Palace can get Diagne on a decent fee, especially given his record in front of goal in the last two seasons, the Dakar-born star could prove to be a fantastic buy.