Newcastle United, having seen their attacking options boosted by the summer arrival of Callum Wilson, are now believed to be targeting another striker.
Reims foward Boulaye Dia has been linked with a move to St James’ Park after a prolific start to the Ligue 1 campaign.
The 24-year-old is the leading scorer in France’s top flight, with eight goals in seven appearances so far this term. And his performances have led to interest from the Premier League, with Newcastle likely to face competition for his signature.
Dia has admitted that Brighton and Hove Albion made a bid in the summer, though his stock appears to have risen sharply following a remarkable opening to the Ligue 1 campaign.
“There were discussions but it didn’t go any further. I’d like to experience England and the Premier League – all players dream of playing in the Premier League one day, and I’m one of those players,” he said .
“But there’s no point making the move just for the experience of it. You need to move when you’re ready, when you’ve proven yourself when you show consistency. You need to take your time and not move to England too quickly, otherwise, you’ll quickly get lost."
Dia is clearly ambitious, then, and his attitude suggests he won’t get carried away with his current goalscoring spell. But his recent displays have been eye-catching. He scored twice in Reims’ 4-4 draw with Lens before the international break. And he hit a hat-trick in a 4-0 win away at Montpellier late last month.
A move to the Premier League would represent something of a meteoric rise for Dia, who has faced various challenges and setbacks on his road to the top of the French game.
Aged 12, he was invited to a trial at Saint-Etienne, but his dad’s car broke down on the way to the training ground. There were no second chances, so Dia moved on. He was given an opportunity to impress with Lyon, only to be told that he wasn’t expected to grow much taller, and released as a result.
A few years on, DIa found himself at a much more modest club: Jura-Sud. “I still wanted to become a footballer but it wasn’t my priority,” he said. “First I had to work and earn a living for me, for my family [Boulaye is the sixth of seven siblings].
"But football was always at the back of my mind, and my plan was to work for a year or two and then to really go for it, apply for trials at the CFA (4th division) level and hopefully use that as a springboard to get to the professional level.”
After scoring 15 goals in 21 appearances for Jura-Sud, Dia was snapped up by Reims in 2018, quickly forcing his way into the first-team set-up and establishing a reputation as one of the brightest young talents at the club.
It has taken hard work, and a turn of fortune, but Dia is now on the cusp of a big move, despite the fact that during his teenage years he worked as an electrician to support his family.
His ascent has been rapid and impressive, although he is still hardly a well-known name across Europe.
But Newcastle fans may soon be acquainted with the young striker tormenting defences in France’s top flight.
