West Ham United table bid for Boulaye Dia transfer as decision made
West Ham have been told that Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia will cost them £12.6million after making an initial bid, according to Corriere Dello Sport.
The Italian outlet reported in their print edition (29 July, page 27) that the Irons had tabled an offer of around £7.5million for the Senegalese striker within the last few weeks.
However, that’s well below Salernitana’s asking price of roughly £12.65m for the 27-year-old forward, despite their relegation to Serie B having finished rock-bottom of Italy’s top tier.
West Ham re-ignite Boulaye Dia transfer pursuit
While Correire Dello Sport’s report didn’t reveal the date on which the Hammers submitted their £7.5m offer for Dia, it suggests that they’re back in the running for a striker they’ve liked for a long time.
They had previously pursued the Senegal international in January with a bid of £12.8m mooted [Calcio Salernitana, 24 January], but after Salernitana’s relegation, they’ll be lucky to get anything close to that.
Furthermore, given Dia only scored four Serie A goals last season – compared to 16 while on loan at Salernitana the year prior – shelling out north of £10m on an out-of-form player represents a risk.
Dia’s goals in 2022/23 almost single-handedly kept Salernitana in Serie A, but his meagre return last time around implies Irons fans would be underwhelmed if he is the club’s headline striker signing this summer.
However, with Aston Villa holding firm on their £40m price tag for Jhon Duran [Evening Standard, 26 July], it’s hardly surprising to see Julen Lopetegui sounding out alternative, and cheaper, options.
In other West Ham news, one Irons transfer target now looks ‘inevitable’ to leave his club this summer.
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