WHZ Stats: Reims striker Dia could be ideal January addition for West Ham
West Ham failed to bolster their centre-forward options in the last transfer window but ahead of January, links are emerging about strikers David Moyes could try to bring in at the London Stadium.
One of those strikers is reportedly Reims star Boulaye Dia, who has scored nine goals in 14 Ligue 1 appearances this season.
According to football news website 90min, the Hammers are in pole position to sign the 24-year-old Senegal international next month even though Newcastle were one of the first Premier League teams to scout him.
It is understood that West Ham have concerns about their strength in depth up front and those concerns are definitely justified.
Michail Antonio doesn’t have the most reliable of injury records while Sebastien Haller, the only true out-and-out centre-forward in the senior squad, only seems to turn up once in a blue moon.
Signing a third striker in the January window could be a good move by West Ham to sustain the brilliant run of form they’ve found themselves in and based on the numbers, Dia would be a smart addition.
According to stats by Wyscout, only Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe [11] has scored more goals in Ligue 1 than Dia [9] this season.
Dia has averaged 2.06 shots per 90 minutes of league football this season and 50 per cent of them have been on target.
As you can see by the image below, most of Dia’s misses have been from shots outside the penalty area or near one of the corners of the box. But once the Reims forward is faced with the goal, he more often than not hits the target and scores.
While it’s clear that strikers are paid to stick the ball in the back of the net, Moyes’ system relies upon his forwards to make runs, win aerial duels and get involved in link-up play.
Dia has completed 79.4 per cent of his passes this term while 62.5 per cent of his passes into the penalty area have found a team-mate.
He also averages 3.72 touches inside the penalty area every 90 minutes in Ligue 1 and completes 61.4 per cent of his dribbles.
As long as the price is right next month, we’d be happy to see the Irons press on with signing Dia but Reims, who are just above Ligue 1’s relegation zone, might be unwilling to lose such an important player when their top-flight status is under threat.
In other West Ham news, Frank McAvennie wants the Hammers to sign Joshua King.