Everton could now land a second chance to sign Boulaye Dia after failing to seal a transfer with Salernitana in January. His Serie A side are warming to selling at the end of the term.
That is according to Tutto Salernitana, which reports Everton held talks with I Granata over a transfer for Dia. The Toffees reached out to the Stadio Arechi natives following the World Cup where the 26-year-old was key for Senegal. He started all four of their games in Qatar.
Dia also scored once at the World Cup to help toward a 3-1 win over Qatar for the striker’s third international goal. The 23-cap forward has also scored eight and assisted four goals in 21 Serie A games this season. He has opened 17 of the Campania outfit’s 22 fixtures so far.
Salernitana signed Dia on loan from Villarreal in August after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. They beat the drop by just one point and boasted the second-worst offence in 2021/22 with 33 Serie A goals. Dia has since helped I Granata to pen the 12th-best with 25.
Stadio Arechi chiefs hold an option to buy Dia from Villarreal for €12m (£10.5m) as part of his loan transfer. The Campania outfit fully intend to take up the clause as they now sense he is worth at least €20m (£18m). But the forward’s long-term future might be elsewhere.
Everton knew Salernitana would not grant Boulaye Dia a transfer in January
Salernitana will decide at the end of the season whether Dia will remain in Campania or to cash in following Everton’s interest in a transfer. The striker also has further suitors dotted around Europe. He can be a long-term signing having only turned 26 on November 16, too.
I Granata informed the Toffees in January that Dia’s future would only be considered from the summer, as well. Tutto Salernitana cited Everton’s interest during the mid-season sales and noted the Goodison Park side like Dia a lot. He was not the only player of focus, either.
Salernitana also debated a deal to sign Michael Keane from Everton in the January transfer window. Intermediaries suggested the centre-back to the Serie A side as the Toffees would have granted a loan deal. But they did not tempt the 30-year-old to join a relegation fight.
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