Daryl Dike, Barnsley FC’s ‘unknown quantity’ already attracting Premier League interest

The Orlando City striker, 20, has joined the Reds on loan for the rest of the season and he could be available for Saturday’s home game with Derby.

Barnsley moved late in the window to sign Dike after he made his international debut for the US on Sunday – allowing him to meet immigration criteria to head to England.

On Dike, Oakwell CEO Murphy said: “I believe Orlando had a few bids in for him that they have turned down for permanent moves to Belgium and Germany.

“When it became known that he was coming to us, there have been several Premier League teams who have reached out and said they are going to monitor him and they have him on their radar.

“We will see how that unfolds. But he was an unknown quantity because of his first year in the MLS and the MLS is getting more eyes on it.”

Meanwhile, Murphy has clarified speculation about the terms of Dike’s loan after Orlando EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi said that the player had to hit certain conditions or else the club could exercise the right to recall him.

Murphy confirmed the club do have an option to buy the player permanently, but said that some suggestions about him having an astronomical buy-out – there have been some references to $20m – is way off the mark.

He said: “I will not go into detail. Some of the numbers being thrown around are just ‘silly season.’ There is a buy option and Orlando wanted a recall option in there.”

Revealing the option is based on appearance criteria, he added: “It is exactly that and nothing robust. They want to make sure he is there and getting games.”

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