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Report: West Ham and Everton ‘above all’ in race for £10.5m striker, talks underway

Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images
Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images
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Italian outlet Otto Pagine claim West Ham and Everton are ‘above all’ and in talks to sign Villarreal striker Boulaye Dia as he continues to shine on loan at Serie A club Salernitana this season. The Italian side have a permanent option.

Dia, 26, joined Salernitana from Villarreal despite having a hand in 13 goals in 35 games with the La Liga club. The Senegal international has scored six times in just 14 Serie A games, as well as laying on two assists. Clubs are keen.

Indeed, the report claims Everton and West Ham would like to bring the versatile attacker to English football. He has shown while in Italy that he is able to adapt quickly and get used to a new style, or brand, of football across Europe.

Everton and West Ham are in talks to sign Dia. It might be that he only costs £10.5million, which is the value of the clause Salernitana have in their loan deal. Villarreal may look to bump that price up given it is interest from England.

England v Senegal: Round of 16 - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
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West Ham and Everton above all in talks to sign Dia from Villarreal

Dia has shown he is a player capable of scoring in different leagues and that will be tempting Everton and West Ham. Both clubs will feel they could do with another body in the final third. Everton, definitely. Salomon Rondon has left.

Everton have Neal Maupay up top but he is hardly the man to fire in the goals and take Everton away from the drop zone. They need help and Dia can provide that, without costing the Toffeea a fortune. West Ham offer Europe.

Whether Villarreal would be willing to sanction a deal for the same price – and sell to a Premier League club, remains to be seen. His form might deter them from selling Dia, but are unable to prevent doing so to Salernitana.

England  v Senegal -World Cup
Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images