Fresh blow as €16m initial bid rejected but Everton table second interesting offer

Everton have moved on from the failure to sign El Bilal Toure as work is being done on other striker targets. Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia is admired by Everton and the Toffees are not wasting any time in making an offer for the Senegal striker who is expected to leave Italy this summer.

EFC have endured failures in the pursuit of Bilal Toure, Victor Boniface and Viktor Gyokeres. The Toffees have kept a shortlist ready and instead of scouting new names, they have reverted to players that they followed for a long time. Dia is a player that attracted the attention of Everton even in the January transfer window. Back then, Dia was on loan at Salernitana from Villarreal with the Italians having an option to sign him permanently for €12 million.

The Garnets signed Dia and are ready to make an instant profit by selling the Senegal international this summer. The 26 year old had a release clause of €25 million valid till 20th July but no side activated the release clause despite widespread interest.

Everton make a second offer for Boulaye Dia

After failing to sign Bilal Toure, EFC asked Salernitana sporting director Morgan De Sanctis to arrange a meeting to open talks for Dia. This time around, the Merseysiders were ready to offer a player plus cash deal to bring down Salernitana’s asking price and give them a similar replacement for Dia.

The Italian side admires Neal Maupay and even made an attempt to sign the French striker last summer. Everton managed to beat Salernitana to Maupay’s signing but the 26 year old was underwhelming in his first season at Goodison Park. EFC were open to offering Maupay plus cash in exchange of Dia who will leave Salernitana this summer.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, EFC made an initial offer of €16 million for Dia which was rejected by the Serie A side. Tutto Salernitana journalist Luca Esposito provided fresh update on Everton’s chase of the Senegalese striker. EFC have made an offer of €18 – €20 million plus Maupay to Salernitana. Dia will surely leave Salernitana this summer as he continues to recover from a knee surgery which he underwent a few weeks ago.

Dia netted 16 goals last season and his arrival at Goodison Park will ease the load of goalscoring on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and also provide a reliable option to lead the frontline in absence of the English striker.

Will EFC sign Boulaye Dia by the end of this month?