Crystal Palace have been linked with Marseille striker Bamba Dieng recently, and the 22-year-old could prove to be Patrick Vieira's own version of Didier Drogba at Selhurst Park.

According to 90min, a number of Premier League clubs including Palace, Leeds United, West Ham, Leicester and Everton are all keeping tabs on the Senegalese forward, although Marseille are still keen to tie him down to a new contract.

Dieng has lost his place as a regular in Igor Tudor's side since his antics in the summer, which saw him come extremely close to moves to both Leeds and Nice before failing a medical with the latter, having decided against a move to Yorkshire at Nice Airport.

The young forward has found the net once for Marseille this season and also scored for Senegal at the World Cup, so perhaps he could rediscover his best form with regular starts at Selhurst Park.

Should he sign for the Eagles this month, Vieira will be hoping that the 22-year-old follows in the footsteps of another African forward to dominate in the Premier League after moving from Marseille - Didier Drogba.

The legendary forward signed for Chelsea in 2004 and went on to become an icon for the Stamford Bridge outfit, contributing 164 goals in 368 appearances for the Blues, including a memorable late equaliser in their Champions League final win over Bayern Munich 11 years ago.

Another former Premier League striker in El Hadji Diouf certainly thinks that Dieng could follow in the Ivory Coast great's footsteps, having sung his praises in 2021.

The ex-Bolton forward said of his 22-year-old compatriot: "I knew him with the national youth team. He is a striker, a Didier Drogba. All he knows how to do is score goals. He has qualities that we see on a daily basis, to play in spaces. It was chosen for this explosiveness and this ability to hurt the opponent's back. He has great potential."

Palace are certainly in need of a natural goalscorer in their ranks, given the respective woes in front of goal of Odsonne Edouard, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jordan Ayew so far this season, with just five Premier League goals between the centre-forward trio.

If Dieng proves to be even half the player that Drogba was in England, then he would surely be a quality signing by Vieira this month if he arrives in south London.