Leeds United has been linked with Villarreal striker Boulaye Dia but might have to race against three other Premier League clubs to acquire his services.
After six goals and two assists for US Salernitana 1919 on loan this season, the 26-year-old has been watched by West Ham, Everton and Leicester City as well as the Whites for a move to the English top-flight.
He was included in Senegal's 26-man World Cup squad and has proven himself at the tournament after finding the net in the side's 3-1 win over Qatar for his second goal in Senegalese colours.
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If Senegal want to progress from the group, then Dia will need to be a vital part of their success against Ecuador on Tuesday and if they do get a result off the back of the 26-year-old, his price will go up.
With forwards like Patrick Bamford without consistent minutes and a young core of attackers at Jesse Marsch's disposal, bringing in someone with experience abroad and on the big stage like Dia could be great for the Whites as they continue to push up the Premier League table.
Who is Boulaye Dia?
Signing a professional contract with French fourth tier side Jura Sud Foot in 2017, Dia immediately got off on the right foot, scoring 15 goals in 21 matches before signing for Ligue 1 side Stade Reims after just one season with Jura.
In the beginning at Reims, he managed sporadic minutes, providing goals and assists in flashes of brilliance but wouldn't truly break into the first team proper until his final two seasons where he scored 23 goals across both.
After signing for Villarreal from Stade Reims for £12 million in the summer of 2021, he managed 35 appearances for the Spanish side including eight matches in the Champions League last season.
His lone goal in the competition came in the semi-final second leg against Liverpool where he found the net after just three minutes before a 3-2 loss.
However, he did miss much of the season with a recurring MCL injury in his knee, but still scored five goals and five assists in La Liga including a brace and an assist against Deportivo Alaves.
Now on loan in the Serie A, Dia has found great form this season for Salernitana and was included in the Senegal squad, where he reaped his reward by netting against Qatar earlier this week.
What's been said about him?
CBS journalist Ben Jacobs has highlighted Dia's options in the Premier League as well as the Serie A as he took to social media earlier this week. He said: "Boulaye Dia scores Senegal’s first World Cup goal. He also has six goals in Serie A for Salernitana, where he’s on-loan from Villarreal. Salernitana have an option to buy for £10m.
"Leeds, Everton, West Ham and Leicester all keeping tabs on him, too."
Transfer journalist Dean Jones wrote last week for GiveMeSport that if Dia continues to have a successful tournament, plenty of teams will be in the hunt for him.
"The loss of Sadio Mane to injury, for now, is a big loss to this team – but they have a man ready to step into his boots.
"Dia, 26, is a striker ready to make the most of his chance. Defenders are going to find him a handful and there’s potential here for him to become one of the star names to earn a transfer if things go well - even comparing him to Sadio Mane who missed this year's World Cup with an injury.
"He’s having a solid season on loan at Salernitana from Villarreal and his ability to play off the shoulder and finish one-on-ones means he has real goal potential.
"He’s got great goal awareness and will really see this as an opportunity to shine. Senegal take on Netherlands on Monday and if Dia does well we can expect links with the likes of West Ham, Leeds and Everton to emerge."
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