West Ham United generate ruthless pressure on Salernitana over Boulaye Dia
West Ham have made contact with the entourage of Boulaye Dia as they put the pressure on Salernitana over a deal, according to Otto Pagine.
The Senegal forward is on loan with the Serie A side, who have an option to sign him permanently from Villarreal for around £10million [Ben Jacobs, 25 November].
But the Hammers have joined Everton in pressing the matter as they have now reportedly “tested the waters” with Dia’s representatives over a Premier League move.
According to Otto Pagine the competition from English sides has “become ruthless” and the Italians may be forced to “step on the accelerator” to deal with it.
President Danilo Iervolino is reportedly willing to make the deal permanent, but it is currently “on standby”, with the riches of the Premier League now providing a threat that is pushing the Serie A club.
Heating up
When it comes to goal scorers there is no such thing as patience in the transfer market, so it looks like the English sides aren’t willing to accept waiting in line.
Salernitana are in the driving seat having got a loan-to-buy agreement wrapped up in the summer, but the financial might of the Premier League has a lot of sway.
The 26-year-old has scored six and assisted two in 14 Serie A appearances so far this year, and opened his nation’s account in Qatar, which is enough to spark movement at the London Stadium.
If the Irons are making overtures to Dia’s entourage they are clearly hoping to lay the groundwork for convincing the Italian side to trigger the permanent deal and sell him on immediately.
It won’t be an easy operation because there are so many moving parts, and the presence of Everton in the equation won’t make anyone who remembers the Amadou Onana pursuit feel overjoyed.
At the end of the season it would surely be a no-brainer for Salernitana to make an instant profit on the forward, but half way through the campaign raises far more difficulties.
West Ham have already spent plenty on improving the attack with Gianluca Scamacca, Maxwel Cornet and Lucas Paqueta all brought in, but injury and inconsistency hasn’t seen everything come together so more money looks set to be spent.
Dia is relatively affordable on paper, so if enough lobbying to player and both clubs can be done to see them all accept a move now in exchange for a financial boost then perhaps this move is a possibility in January, otherwise it is likely to be major battle in the summer.