West Ham set sights on £17m striker who scored at 2022 World Cup

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West Ham United have reportedly set their sights on Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia.

The Hammers could really do with bolstering their attacking ranks in the January transfer window.

West Ham didn’t replace Gianluca Scamacca in summer, and Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio have been filling the role this term.

With Antonio currently on the sidelines, Bowen is shouldering most of the goal-scoring responsibility as he leads the Hammers line.

The report linking West Ham with Dia comes from Italian outlet Cronache di Salerno, who also link the forward with several other Premier League clubs as well as a Bundesliga side and two Serie A clubs.

Eintracht Frankfurt are apparently ‘in the front row’ for the 27-year-old. However, there is a need to ‘watch out for’ the Premier League, where West Ham, Everton and Wolves are lurking.

In addition, the likes of Fiorentina and AC Milan are reportedly interested too, though they’re apparently unwilling to match Salernitana’s €20million (around £17million) price tag.

West Ham target Boulaye Dia played against England at 2022 World Cup

Dia was linked with a move to the Premier League in the summer, with Wolves hoping to sign him, but Salernitana didn’t sanction a move.

This led to the Senegal ace initially refusing to return to the club after the international break, but he ultimately resolved his differences with the club’s hierarchy.

However, with the January transfer window now upon us, speculation is doing the rounds once again, and West Ham are said to be in the picture.

Dia featured at the 2022 World Cup, playing in all three group games plus the last-16 loss to England. He also scored once, against hosts Qatar.

‘Real goal potential’

Prior to the tournament, Dean Jones wrote on GiveMeSport: “The loss of Sadio Mane to injury, for now, is a big loss to this team – but they have a man ready to step into his boots.

“Dia, 26 (at the time), is a striker ready to make the most of his chance.

“Defenders are going to find him a handful and there’s potential here for him to become one of the star names to earn a transfer if things go well.

“He’s having a solid season on loan at Salernitana from Villarreal and his ability to play off the shoulder and finish one-on-ones means he has real goal potential.

“He’s got great goal awareness and will really see this as an opportunity to shine.”