Everton resume talks with Salernitana over bid plus Neal Maupay for Boulaye Dia, decision to come within 10 days
Everton have resumed talks with Salernitana over a deal for Boulaye Dia and should find out within 10 days if the transfer will go ahead, according to Tutto Salernitana.
The online outlet reports that the Toffees opted not to meet a clause of around £21.4million for the 26-year-old forward as the fee was “excessive”.
However, Salernitana have a long-standing interest in Everton striker Maupay, who may end up proving key in Everton’s chances of landing Dia.
Fiorentina are named as still having an active interest in Dia, but AC Milan – it is said – are no longer in the race.
Everton should know by August 15 if a deal can be struck, with Tutto Salernitana writing that after that date Dia will be taken off the market.
Two birds, one stone…
This deal makes sense for a whole bunch of reasons and for a whole bunch of people.
It makes sense for Everton as they badly need reinforcements to a forward line that never clicked into gear last season. It makes sense for Salernitana who should receive a decent fee and a ready-made replacement. It makes sense for Dia, who will get the opportunity to showcase his talents in the Premier League. And it definitely makes sense for Maupay, who has had a very unhappy spell on Merseyside.
Of course, when things seemingly make sense in football, that is often when things can ironically go a little awry, and with so many moving parts there is obviously the chance this one falls by the wayside.
But if the Toffees have the means to get this one over the line, and get Maupay off the wage bill at the same time, then frankly the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone is one they simply should not pass up.
In other Everton news, Roma have identified Patson Daka as an alternative to Toffees striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.