West Ham £40m transfer decision comes as blow to Everton and Aston Villa
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The Hammers continue to browse the transfer market for added firepower.
West Ham have turned transfer attention to Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia this summer having grown frustrated at the lofty £40 million price tag demanded by Premier League rivals Aston Villa for wantaway forward Jhon Duran.
The Hammers are known to be in the market for a goalscorer this summer to ease the burden on England international Jarrod Bowen under Julen Lopetegui next season. The likes of Newcastle United man Callum Wilson and Brentford talisman Ivan Toney had been linked, but it is Duran who appeared to be close to a move to the London Stadium this week.
The Villa player is keen to make the transfer happen, appearing to make an Irons symbol with his arms when on social media recently, with the Midlands club willing to sell. West Ham have bid £30 million for the 20-year-old but Villa want an extra £10 million for a player who only arrived at the club in January 2023.
TeamTALK now reports that West Ham have decided to move on from that deal and pursue Senegal international Dia with a £7.5 million offer made. Everton were linked with the player in January but were not given the green light for a move.
The Toffees are said to still be interested in the player, whose club was relegated from the Serie A last season. Dia managed just four goals during the campaign but missed large parts with injury.
The striker has previously spent time at Reims in France, as well as Villareal in Spain. He was part of the Senegal side that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021.
The report suggests that Dia has 'no intention' of playing in Serie B and will push for a move, with news of West Ham interest a blow for Everton's hopes of landing the player and Aston Villa's bid to cash in on Duran.