When it comes to signing forwards, Villarreal hit the jackpot more often than not. Diego Forlan, for instance. Gerard Moreno, Arnaut Danjuma, Karl Toko Ekambi, Cedric Bakambu, Luciano Vietto. Boulaye Dia, however, feels like a break from tradition. And not in a good way, either.
After 13 months, 35 games and just seven goals for the Yellow Submarine, Boulaye Dia is heading into all new waters; Fired out with the torpedos. The former Reims is joining Serie A outfit Salernitana on a loan-to-buy deal potentially worth up to £10 million, per Fabrizio Romano.
According to Salernitana News, Dia is in Italy today; Expected to undergo medical tests before putting pen to paper. And while it would be unfair to say good riddance to a man who was more underwhelming and straight-up disastrous, it’s unlikely Unai Emery will be losing too much sleep.
West Ham United wanted Boulaye Dia at the London Stadium
“Spanish football is different from French football,” Dia pointed out recently, explaining why a man who had found the net so reliably at Reims was struggling to make the same sort of impact on the Castellon coast.
“A period of adaptation was logical. (But) After winning the (African Cup of Nations title with Senegal in February), I return with a lot of motivation and positive energy.”
That ‘positive energy’ would never be channelled into goals, however. Or, at least, not enough goals to keep Dia at the Champions League semi-finalists. Villarreal are now looking into deals for veteran free-agent Edinson Cavani and Almeria’s former Rangers flop Umar Sadiq.
And it’s telling that, when it became apparent that Villarreal were looking to part with Dia, his name was conspicuous by it’s absence from the UK gossip columns. That is despite the fact that West Ham United – who tried to sign Dia during his time in France – were in the midst of scouring the market for a new number nine.
“We talked a lot with West Ham,” explained Dia’s agent, Frederic Guerra. “He is a player who interests them.”
According to France Football, however, the Hammers opted against meeting Reims’ £12 million asking price. One ill-fated season in La Liga later, that decision now looks like a smart one.
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