Gianluca Di Marzio said on Christmas Eve that Dan Ashworth, the sporting director of Newcastle United, traveled to Italy to witness three Salernitana players—Boulaye Dia among them—play live against AC Milan.
The 27-year-old, who may leave the Serie A team in January, has already piqued the interest of the Magpies, according to Tutto Salernitana, who made the announcement two days later.
Carmine Raiola, an authority on all matters linked to the Italian team, supports Newcastle’s interest in the striker even more. In an interview with Radio Bruno, he provided an update that Labaro Viola reported.
Raiola claims the Senegal international will leave Salernitana and explains how Eddie Howe’s side or another club can acquire his signature.
“A strong player, he makes the team come up for you and makes the team score for you. Everyone remembers the hat-trick against Fiorentina,” he said.
“He wants to leave Salerno. [Salernitana director Walter] Sabatini was clear, the attacker must be sold permanently.”
“Just think, Milan had offers of €15m and they were rejected. Fiorentina, if interested, will have to spend €21m. But with technical counterparts the price could be lowered.
“For me he will go away, just look at what happened in the summer. Very strong, but with a truly complicated character. From abroad, Frankfurt and Newcastle like him.”
Sabatini has publicly stated Dia will only leave the club this month through a permanent sale. This is why Salernitana have already rejected Wolverhampton Wanderers’ proposal of a loan deal with a purchase option.
Newcastle have been told they have to pay €21m and it needs to be seen whether they’ll invest this on the frontman in January.
Dia is currently nursing an injury but is still included in the Senegal squad for AFCON.
