29th December 2020 Carrow Road, Norwich, Norfolk, England, English Football League Championship Football, Norwich versus Queens Park Rangers A dejected Seny Dieng of Queens Park Rangers after Teemu Pukki of Norwich City scores from the penalty spot for 1-0 in the 75th minute PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK ActionPlus12256656 ShaunxBrooks
According to The Sun, Seny Dieng has attracted the attention of Crystal Palace among other Premier League clubs. The Queens Park Rangers shot-stopper has impressed with his displays this season. Apart from Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Arsenal are looking to add to their goalkeeper options.
Born in Switzerland, Dieng started out at FC Red Star Zurich before joining the academy of Grasshoppers. Having progressed through the ranks, the custodian never made a first-team appearance before joining German club MSV Duisburg in February 2016. Six months later, Dieng joined QPR.
The 26-year-old is yet to make his first-team debut for QPR. During his time at the club, he has spent time on loan at Whitehawk, Stevenage, Dundee FC and more recently at Doncaster Rovers. Dieng spent the first half of the 2019/20 season on loan with Doncaster, before returning to QPR in January. He made 27 appearances, keeping nine clean sheets.
This season he has been given a run between the posts and has made 20 appearances so far, keeping 4 clean sheets in the process. Dieng has been a part of the Senegal team but is yet to play a game for them to date.
While it would seem absurd on the up to pass up on an emerging keeper like Dieng, we need to look at Crystal Palace’s squad. Vicente Guaita is the first choice, ever since his arrival. Wayne Hennessey was, for a long time, the No.1 until Guaita took over. Let’s not forget that they added Jack Butland at the start of this season.
Guaita and Hennessey may be 33 years of age but they still have a lot to offer given that age is fairly decent for goalkeepers. Even if Palace wants a younger option, they can install Butland. The former Stoke keeper may not have gotten a game this season but he still has bags of potential.
With so many options at their disposal, it would be pointless to pursue another emerging and young keeper like Deny Dieng. Given that he has just started making progress, he wouldn’t get regular game time at Palace.
The Eagles would be wise to not spend the money on a player in an overstocked position and perhaps reinforce some other position that needs strengthening.