Director rubbishes claim Everton have made £14m bid for ‘very strong’ striker

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Salernitana have distanced themselves from reports suggesting that they have turned down a £14 million bid from Premier League outfit Everton for star striker Boulaye Dia. 

While The Toffees are yet to land the new forward Sean Dyche craves, it is certainly not for a lack of trying.

Everton saw an offer rejected by Leeds United for Wilfried Gnonto, were blown out of the water by Middle Eastern money in pursuit of Rodrigo Moreno, and also reportedly agreed a deal for El Bilal Toure before the former Almeria frontman opted to replace Rasmus Hojlund at Atalanta instead. 

Reports linking Boulaye Dia with a move to Merseyside, meanwhile, have resurfaced in recent weeks; the silky Senegal international a long-time target. 

But, while Dia may still be in Everton’s thoughts, Salernitana’s sporting director is at pains to point out that reports suggesting the Toffees had a £14 million offer rebuffed are wide of the mark. 

Everton have not made a Boulaye Dia bid

“He’s a very strong player. We imagine he will stay since no official offers have arrived,” Morgan de Sanctis, the former Roma goalkeeper, tells Tuttomercatoweb. 

“Salernitana will make investments, trying not to lose our precious pieces. We will have a strong and complete team to reach safety as soon as possible.” 

Dia, who held talks over a move to West Ham United while still in France with Reims, scored 16 goals for Salernitana in 2022/23.  

Everton, meanwhile, appear to have turned their focus to Youssef Chermiti after accepting defeat over Toure and co. And it seems that fortune will be on Dyche’s side this time around, Chermiti’s father appearing to confirm reports suggesting that Everton have had an initial £13 million offer accepted by Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. 

“Yes, we were informed that Sporting agreed a deal in principle to transfer Youssef,” he tells Fabrizio Romano. “Now, we will calmly analyse the proposal that Everton has just presented to us.” 

Chermiti only made his Primeira Liga debut in January. The Portugal U19 international could eventually set Everton back £17 million with add-ons included.