After holding talks 2 years ago, West Ham could finally land £17m man

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Boulaye Dia has been a long time in coming for West Ham United. And the hope is that, if the Senegal international finally touches down in the Premier League during the January transfer window, he’ll be worth the wait.

“We talked a lot with West Ham,” Dia’s agent, Frederic Guerra, told Le10 Sport in January 2021. “He is a player who interests them.”

By the time the window opens again shortly after the conclusion of the Qatar World Cup, it will be two years since West Ham tried and failed to bring the then-Reims striker to the London Stadium.

“Perhaps my priority was the Premier League,” Dia himself admitted to Marca, eventually sealing a switch to La Liga five months after the Hammers missed out.

“But (a move to England didn’t happen) for me. And I opted for Villarreal. Everything moved very fast. I had the opportunity to make the leap to a team such as Villarreal, in order to grow.”

Will West Ham United finally sign Senegal star Boulaye Dia?

After a difficult spell in Spain, Dia was on the move again last summer, joining Salernitana on loan. With six goals in just 10 Serie A starts before the World Cup break, the France-born centre-forward is now playing his best football since those heady days at Stade de Reims.

And, clearly, West Ham have not forgotten about him.

Per Tutto Salernitana, the goal-shy Londoners have made ‘concrete’ enquiries for Dia ahead of January. Salernitana retain the option to sign Dia outright. And there is nothing to stop them doing just that, before selling him on for an immediate profit. The report adds that Dia is currently valued at around £17 million.

But, after representing three different clubs in three different leagues in the space of 18 months, Dia may have little desire for yet another change of scenery.

“(Salernitana chief Morgan de Sanctis) didn’t just talk about money, like all the other sports directors do. He made him feel important,” Dia’s agent told TMW recently.

“He made him understand that,, in Salerno they really wanted him. And, in the end, Dia accepted (their offer). That’s how he is. Dia is a boy who has happiness as his top priority. And he’s happy in Salerno.”