Everton remain top of the pile for signing Boulaye Dia but now face Premier League competition…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Tutto Salernitana, who claim that Kevin Thelwell will continue to rival West Ham United for the Senegalese striker.

With the 26-year-old currently on loan at the Italian side, they plan to exercise their €12m (£10.4m) option to buy clause with plans to “fix the price” for his summer exit.

Therefore, it seems the enthusiasm from the English clubs will have to wait until the conclusion of this season. Having contacted his entourage, both teams are aware of this plan.

It is expected they will demand €17m (£15m) for his signature.

“Exciting” signing

Although it may be one for the future, this remains a signing that Evertonians can get excited about.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin continuing to suffer from injuries, and Neal Maupay having scored just once since his summer move, obtaining a striker is a move of the utmost importance for Frank Lampard.

Especially given how his side in total has scored just 11 times in 15 games.

Having become somewhat reliant on the one-season exploits of their Sheffield-born frontman, it seems up front has become a position somewhat neglected.

Calvert-Lewin had scored 16 goals during the 2020/21 campaign but has featured just 23 times across the season and a half following.

Dia alone already has six goals this season for his side, as well as assisting a further two. His entry to Goodison Park would mark an instant upgrade on the current crop of toothless attackers that have frustrated fans thus far this season.

He seems set to glide past last season’s tally of seven goals and six assists, which included a strike against Liverpool in their Champions League semi-final collapse.

What has further marked a sensational season for the on-loan Villarreal marksman is his World Cup goal, which will likely have seen his value rocket even further.

Transfer insider and journalist Dean Jones had expected him to “be a breakout” from the competition in Qatar, also labelling him “exciting” and “confident”.

This move could be worth the wait for Lampard and Thelwell, but they will be wary of going the rest of the season without a reliable goal scorer.