---
title: "West Ham face growing competition for reported target Boulaye Dia"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/02/16/west-ham-face-growing-competition-in-boulaye-dia-transfer-race/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-02-16T19:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-16T19:00:00Z"
---

# West Ham face growing competition for reported target Boulaye Dia

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/02/16/west-ham-3-0-sheffield-unitedplayer-ratings/) face growing competition if they want to sign Reims striker [Boulaye Dia](https://readwestham.com/2021/01/27/west-ham-continue-to-follow-boulaye-dia-transfer-rumours/) in the summer, according to a report from French publication [Le10 Sport](https://le10sport.com/football/mercato/exclu-mercato-om-francfort-se-prepare-pour-boulaye-dia-537792?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter).

The Hammers were [believed to be interested](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11685/12187191/boulaye-dia-west-ham-targeting-reims-striker-as-possible-sebastien-haller-replacement) in the Senegalese forward during the January transfer window after the departure of Sebastien Haller, but the Irons [refused to meet](https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Mercato-le-napoli-et-milan-sur-boulaye-dia-reims/1216242) the Ligue 1 side’s asking price.

That hesitation could now lead to West Ham missing out altogether on the man they [‘continue to follow’](https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Mercato-le-napoli-et-milan-sur-boulaye-dia-reims/1216242) as [Le10 Sport](https://le10sport.com/football/mercato/exclu-mercato-om-francfort-se-prepare-pour-boulaye-dia-537792?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter) claimed that Napoli, AC Milan, Marseille and Eintracht Frankfurt have all joined the race for his services.

The 24-year-old, who has [12 league goals this season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/boulaye-dia/leistungsdaten/spieler/626913), has a [contract with Reims until 2022](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/boulaye-dia/profil/spieler/626913)and owing to the [ongoing financial crisis](https://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/lfp-emergency-support-plan-french-football-financial-crisis/13o8xakzfjuwe1486rm0vu4dlm) in the French top flight, they could be forced to sell him at the end of this season.

Dia’s market value stands at £10.8m according to [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/boulaye-dia/marktwertverlauf/spieler/626913) and his current employers have previously [mooted £13m (€15m)](https://www.teamtalk.com/news/west-ham-opening-offer-boulaye-dia-reims-transfer) as the minimum fee required to capture the powerful striker.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Despite West Ham’s excellent season so far, signing a striker in January ought to have been a necessity. That belief has only been heightened recently as [Michail Antonio misses more matches](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-vs-sheffield-united-reaction-david-moyes-jarrod-bowen-b919910.html) with hamstring problems, leaving Moyes [without a recognised centre-forward](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-ham-united/kadernachposition/verein/379).

Whether Dia is the chosen one when West Ham go in search again in the summer remains to be seen, but with a more than respectable goal return this season and an affordable price tag, he ought to be [among the leading contenders](https://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2021/jan/13/five-strikers-who-could-replace-sebastien-haller-at-west-ham).