Why Everton should try and win the race for Reims striker Boulaye Dia
According to claims from French outlet Le10 Sport (h/t The Sun), Everton are among a host of clubs across the continent chasing Reims striker Boulaye Dia ahead of the January transfer window.
Premier League rivals Arsenal, as well as French clubs Lyon and Marseille, have also been mentioned among the potential suitors for the Senegalese international, who has been banging in goals left, right and centre in Ligue 1 this season. (Le10 Sport h/t The Sun)
Profile
Born in France to parents of Senegalese descent, Boulaye Dia started his career with Jura Sud in the lower divisions before being snapped up by Stade Reims in 2018. He made his Ligue 1 debut against Angers and went on to register 3 goals in 18 league appearances in his debut season at the club.
Dia established himself as a regular starter for Reims during the previous campaign, ending the 2019-20 season with 7 strikes in 24 Ligue 1 appearances. The highly-rated young striker has really come to the fore with a stunning start to 2020-21, netting 8 times from 12 league outings for his club so far.
The 24-year-old’s exploits have seen him storm to 2nd in the Ligue 1 scoring charts, just two goals behind PSG’s Kylian Mbappe. Dia has also earned himself international recognition with Senegal as a result of his red-hot form on the club front, accumulating 3 caps for his nation so far.
Dia would add more depth to the Everton attack
Everton’s promising start to the campaign has been spearheaded by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been ripping it up in the Premier League this season. The 23-year-old has been in sensational form.
The Toffees have managed 23 goals on the whole this season, almost half of which have been scored by Calvert-Lewin. While their talismanic centre-forward has risen to the challenge so far, the lack of quality alternatives in front of goal could well jeopardise the club’s pursuit of a top-six finish in the coming months.
Richarlison has shown in the past that he’s more than capable of operating through the middle but the Brazilian’s best qualities are undoubtedly utilised out wide on the left. With Moise Kean out on loan and Cenk Tosun very much a peripheral figure at Goodison Park, it goes without saying that Everton need to target another out-and-out centre-forward in January.
Boulaye Dia might not be a household name in Europe but his electrifying form in Ligue 1 this season looks like a promise of better things to come from the Senegalese international. The 24-year-old fits the mould of a promising young centre-forward with plenty of room for development and one who would offer Calvert-Lewin some decent cover and competition up top.
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Verdict
Boulaye Dia is set to enter the final 18 months of his contract at Reims and he would surely be a real bargain for Everton if he is, indeed, available for the reported price of £10million in January. The 24-year-old still has his best years ahead of him and a potential deal for the in-form Senegalese would hand a boost to the Toffees.
