Newcastle United have been linked with Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia in recent days.
There have been numerous reports from Italian sources claiming the Magpies have been scouting the Senegal international.
For instance, Gianluca Di Marzio claimed just before Christmas that Newcastle director Dan Ashworth travelled to Italy to watch Dia and others in action against AC Milan.
More recently, Italian journalist and Salernitana expert Carmine Raiola told Radio Bruno, via Labaro Viola, that the Magpies and Eintracht Frankfurt “like him”.
The reporter, speaking amid interest from Fiorentina, said suitors “will have to spend €21million (£18million). But with technical counterparts the price could be lowered.
“For me, he will leave, just look at what happened in the summer. Very strong, but with a truly complicated character. From abroad, Frankfurt and Newcastle like him.”
‘He is going to hit his prime soon’
Now, Dean Jones has claimed that Newcastle are very much in the market for a new striker in case Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson are out at the same time, and Dia is in their sights.
“It’s not really a surprise that they’ve been monitoring Boulaye Dia because they’ve had an eye on him for a little while now,” he told GiveMeSport.
“Even before this all began and maybe beyond a year ago, for sure.
“It might even be two years to be honest that they’ve had an eye on Boulaye Dia as a young player at the time that they thought was going to break through.
“Obviously, he’s getting into his late 20s now and you’d imagine, he is going to hit his prime soon. So if you’re going to go after a player of this type then it’s going to have to be in the next year.
“So it’d be interesting to see if they go there. They do want another striker because there’s this fear that Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson could be out at the same time again.”
Newcastle will fancy their chances of signing Boulaye Dia
Newcastle will surely fancy their chances of signing Dia in the January transfer window.
He’s reportedly eager to move, the club seems willing to sanction a move, he’s a decent player who will add quality to their front line, and at around £18million, he shouldn’t break the bank.
Dia also 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.
