Fulham are the latest Premier League side to join the race to sign Reims striker Boulaye Dia, according to reports in France this evening.
The 24 year-old forward has scored twelve goals in eighteen league games for Reims this season and currently leads the Ligue 1 scoring charts. The Senegalese international had been widely tipped to move to Olympique Marseilles, but an overseas switch seems more likely given the crippling affect of the coronavirus pandemic on French football finances. West Ham also hold a longstanding interest in Dia, but the Hammers are also considering a number of other targets to replace the recently departed Sebastien Haller.
Le10Sport reports that both Fulham and Crystal Palace have been in touch with Dia’s representatives to gauge the player’s interest in a potential move to London and understand what sort of terms he would be requesting. No official approach has been made by either party, but both are expected to table offers well before the close of the transfer window.
Fulham’s need for striking reinforcements is well established, with Scott Parker using his post-match press conference following Saturday’s defeat by Chelsea to urge the club to conclude a deal for a new forward well in advance of the transfer deadline. The Londoners have also been linked with moves for Dwight Gayle and Josh King in recent days, whilst reports this afternoon claimed that they had failed in an ambitious attempt to bring Moussa Dembele back to Craven Cottage.
Dia has scored 24 goals in 69 games since making his professional debut for Reims in October 2018. His fine form for Reims earned a first international call-up to the senior Senegal squad last year and Dia made his debut in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Morocco. Reims, who are reportedly struggling to be able to pay their first-team squad beyond the end of this month, are believed to be holding out for a fee of around £15m for his services, with a number of European clubs rumoured to be tracking the striker’s progress.
I’ve changed my mind about the recruitment side of things at Fulham. I believed that Scott Parker favoured Cavaleiro and was complicit in our pathetic use of the transfer window to resolve our lack of goal scoring ability but, after listening to my cousin, a fellow lifelong Fulham supporter of 60 years standing, I can see that Scott Parker is almost certainly just as frustrated as us supporters, knows full well that Cavaleiro is not good enough and made his latest announcement in the vain hope that it might jerk Tony Khan into actually pulling his finger out with two weeks of opportunity having already passed us by.
Suddenly, there is talk of action; losing out on Dembele and interest in Dia. Talk is cheap though and we are only interested in action.
The Dembele story seems a little far fetched but, re Dia, I took a look at him after David Moyes stated that West Ham were interested in him in a live TV interview. He looks the part and, at just 24 years old, would qualify under Khan’s analytical policy. However, whereas West Ham are said to have tabled bids varying between 8.5m and 10m, almost certainly, if Khan is seriously interested in this guy, he will be attempting to negotiate some kind of loan deal.
Dia has been absolutely quality for Reims this season. I think he would fit the system and, if we were able to sign him, could definitely help us become more dangerous in front of goal.
This man is winning the golden boot over the likes of Mbappé, Neymar and depay with a team just above the relegation zone. Get it done Tony!!
Tony Khan will prove his worth and make up for the debacle of two years ago by Fulham staying up and not just sorting the defence. We need a central striker and another who can put in accurate crosses. So just get it done Tony!
Sign this lad Asap we need a right foot version off lookman as well
Yet again it’s all talk and no action just as we are about to play Man Utd still no striker Gayle or King are just mediocre, on the other hand Parker needs to get rid of a few so he can name his 25 I have seen no movement yet why are we always installed to do anything come on Tony Khan get this Guy at least so our manager can integrate him into the team
Without debating the merits of his playing ability can anyone on here tell me what is happening with Kevin Macdonald? Is he injured or just not in Scott Parker’s plans or is he on the transfer list?
Early business in the Jan window, sounds expensive but more importantly valuable. A couple more real links and we have a bargaining position…
Get it done TK!
I wish TK would hurry up and get a deal done for Dia before one of our rivals do, I think he and Mitro could be a good double act, I don’t think Mitro is finished he just needs a partner it’s not easy being a lone striker, just look back at the big teams who played with 2 they complemented each other. So please hurry up TK and get Dia in to keep us in the premiership you will recoup the money by not getting relegated.
McDonald wasn’t included in the 25-man squad earlier in the season, so I think it was pretty clear that he hasn’t been in Parker’s plans for a while. He’s been helping out coaching with the youngsters as he is currently doing his coaching badges and was offered around on loan in the last window, but there were no takers, which surprised me.