According to The Daily Mail, Crystal Palace are closely monitoring Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Seny Dieng ahead of a possible move in the January transfer window.

What's the word?

The Swiss stopper has been with the R's since 2017 and has spent most of his time on loan, although he has established himself as a first-choice regular starter for the Championship club under Mark Warburton this season.

It's claimed Arsenal and Leeds United are also keen on landing the 6 ft 3 in colossus, who has saved four clean sheets in 20 appearances across all competitions so far this season, via Transfermarkt.

But Roy Hodgson isn't exactly short of options in goal after the arrival of back-up keeper Jack Butland in the extended summer transfer window, which is precisely why Steve Parish should avoid signing Dieng at all costs.

Parish heading for disaster

It seems not a week goes by without Palace being linked with a move for a QPR player, as they have previously been credited with an interest in his teammates Bright Osayi-Samuel and Michael Olise.

With the likes of Butland, Vicente Guaita, Wayne Hennessey and even Stephen Henderson on their books alone, splashing the cash on a player Hodgson doesn't really need is arguably the last thing Parish needs to be doing right now.

The 26-year-old, who has previously been described as an "outstanding" talent by the QPR boss, currently earns around £4,000-per-week at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. There's a reason he isn't earning the big bucks, that's for sure.

In 20 appearances for Warburton's side this season, Dieng has kept just four clean sheets and conceded 27 goals in total, via Transfermarkt. It's hardly the stuff of legend, is it? His current deal with the club is set to expire in 2024, which means it's unlikely he will come cheap, either.

Dieng has been an integral part of Warburton's side this season, but he's shown nothing like the kind of form that would indicate he is ready to fill in for Guaita on a regular basis.

Given their spending spree in the summer, this simply isn't a risk worth taking. Thankfully, it's unlikely they will have the resources to sanction such a move in any case.

It's fair to say that signing Dieng would be a big mistake as Hodgson arguably needs to strengthen in other areas, namely a holding midfielder, and Parish must simply avoid signing him at all costs.

AND in other news, Steve Parish must sanction Crystal Palace swoop for Jason Knight as a James McCarthy alternative...