Report: Everton could still land £17m forward Boulaye Dia, though ‘no official offers’ made

Salernitana Director of Football Morgan de Sanctis has now addressed Everton’s reported interest in 26-year-old centre-forward Boulaye Dia.

Everton have been linked with an approach for the Senegal international, though ‘no official offers’ have been made as of yet.

That is according to Italian outlet Sporting del Sud, who report that de Sanctis states that Salernitana want to have a ‘strong and complete’ squad ahead of the coming Serie A season.

Morgan de Sanctis said: “We imagine that he can stay since no official offers have arrived. We want to avoid risks so he will only return when he is in the best condition.

Salernitana will make investments, trying not to give up our precious pieces. We will have a strong and complete team to reach safety as soon as possible.”

Everton bringing in Boulaye Dia and offloading Neal Maupay is a win win for the club

The 26-year-old striker scored 16 goals in 33 Serie A games last season, contributing a further six assists in what was an outstanding season.

A report in La Citta di Salerno suggests that Salernitana would be willing to complete a part exchange deal for Boulaye Dia, with Everton striker Neal Maupay going the other way.

Indeed, the report states that a fee of £17m plus Neal Maupay could be enough to lure the 16-goal centre-forward to Goodison Park this summer.

Everton desperately need to add goals to the side this summer and the addition of a 16-goal striker could be invaluable for Sean Dyche.

The deal could also provide a good opportunity to offload £15m forward Neal Maupay, who managed just one Premier League goal for Everton last season.

It is unlikely that the Frenchman has a future at Goodison Park and does not suit Sean Dyche’s style of play, while Dia could provide Everton with a genuine threat upfront – something that was sorely lacking for much of last season.