Crystal Palace have joined Premier League rivals AFC Bournemouth and Brentford in scouting Toulouse striker Thijs Dallinga on the back of an excellent start to the season in France’s Ligue 1.
Whenever a striker hits form and attracts admiring glances from Premier League suitors, questions almost always arise about whether he is capable of making the step up to life in English football.
Thijs Dallinga, however, can point to a couple of Europa League goals against the mighty Liverpool to back up his potential. The 23-year-old Dutchman, called up by the senior Netherlands squad for the first time this month, found the net both at home and away against Jurgen Klopp’s side, including during Toulouse’s famous 3-2 triumph over the seven-time European champions last week.
In total, Dallinga has seven goals from 16 appearances, scouts operating on behalf of Bournemouth, Brentford and Crystal Palace all ‘impressed’ by what they have seen from the one-time Groningen man (TEAMtalk).
Crystal Palace eye Toulouse striker Thijs Dallinga
Dallinga is well-placed to match last season’s tally of 18. He scored a staggering 36, meanwhile, for Excelsior back in 2021/22, earning a move to France on the back of his relentless form in the Dutch second tier.
“Thijs is a complete striker,” Dallinga’s former Excelsior coach – and one-time Brentford boss – Marinus Dijkhuizen tells AD. “He really has a lot to reach the top. (But) I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly!”
“He offers physical presence bu also smart movement,” Feyenoord legend Mario Been explains, via ESPN. “You saw that a few times against Liverpool. He scored a goal at Anfield and now again (at home).
“He is a player with enormous potential.”
Liverpool’s Europa League menace
Brentford are looking at potential Ivan Toney replacements, Celtic talisman Kyogo Furuhashi another potential replacement for a £100 million-rated England international.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are averaging only one goal a game in the Premier League. Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta flew out of the blocks in August but have slowed down considerably since then.
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