In-the-know podcaster @ExWHUemployee has claimed Stade de Reims’ Boulaye Dia is West Ham United’s “number one” forward target in the transfer window.
Last week, Ivorian striker Sebastien Haller switched the London Stadium for the Johan Cruyff Arena as he signed for Ajax in a €22.5m (£20.25m) deal (per BBC).
The move came just a year and a half after the forward signed for the club from Eintracht Frankfurt for a whopping £45m.
Following the Ivorian’s departure, the Hammers have been left with only one out-and-out striker in the first-team squad, that being Michail Antonio (per Transfermarkt).
During the latest episode of The West Ham Way Podcast, @ExWHUemployee revealed that Dia was now David Moyes’ “number one” target to strengthen his attacking options.
He said: “Now, the player that we have moved ahead of [Joshua King], and I think has now been identified as our number-one forward choice, is Boulaye Dia.
“Now, he plays for Stade de Reims in France, so not one of the biggest French teams, but he’s up there with [Kylian] Mbappe – obviously one of the best players in the world now – as top scorer in that league.
“He seems to fit the [mould] of Antonio, as well. He’s got that pace, that unpredictability, that work ethic, he runs the channels. So, if you’re going to stick to the system, which it seems Moyes is, then you need to recruit for the system.
“The interesting thing with him is that he is going to be available reasonably cheaply. There are arguments over what the actual valuation is from his club, but I would say it ranges from about €14-18m.
“The player himself has said that he’s unsure, he’s happy at the club, he’s unsure whether he wants to leave now. We’ve definitely held talks with his club I believe, certainly tentatively, as in, not concrete offers.”
TIF Thoughts on @ExWHUemployee’s transfer claim on Boulaye Dia…
As can be seen in what the in-the-know podcaster had to say, it seems that the Hammers have now made the Senegalese striker their “number-one” target.
Would you be happy if West Ham signed Boulaye Dia?
Yes, he seems a talent
No, he's not that good
Certainly, this season, the forward has been in stellar form for Stade de Reims as he is the joint-highest goalscorer in Ligue 1 – alongside Mbappe – with 12 goals (per BBC).
He has also been his club’s best-performing player in the league, with an impressive 7.06/10 average rating over 17 appearances (per WhoScored).
So, it seems as though the £10.8m-rated striker could be an exciting prospect for West Ham.