Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot insists Boulaye Dia will be allowed to leave this summer after Arsenal, West Ham United and Everton were linked with the striker, speaking to Canal Plus.
The Red & Whites have always been open about the future of their star striker.
To put it simply – Reims won’t stand in Dia’s way if a major European club comes calling.
Don’t make the mistake in assuming the Senegal international will be sold on the cheap, though. Reims are a football club, after all, not a charity.
According to France Football, the Ligue 1 outfit is asking for £12 million, having rejected a lowball bid from West Ham during the January transfer window.
Le10 Sport linked Arsenal and Everton with Dia too.
And, given Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang face uncertain futures at the Emirates, the skilful 24-year-old could soon appear back on Mikel Arteta’s radar – especially after another honest and open interview from Reims’ straight-talking president.
“Boulaye has an exit voucher, we never hid it,” Caillot says.
Now, the phrase “exit voucher” doesn’t translate brilliantly into English. Essentially, Caillot is saying there’s an agreement in place, one that would allow Dia to leave if an appropriate offer arrives.
“He could have left last summer and also this winter – he has a lot of offers. But, today, he has not yet made his choice and we respect him because that’s how we work.”
Dia has scored 16 goals this season, including 14 in Ligue 1 – although only two of those have come in his past 15 games.
Speaking to Le10 Sport in January, agent Frederic Guerra confirmed the reports linking West Ham with Dia were on the money.
“We talked a lot with West Ham,” Guerra said. “He is a player that interests them.”
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