Villarreal are now shipping a forward West Ham wanted off to Italian minnows and it’s proof David Moyes dodged a bullet.
West Ham’s long search for a striker has spanned three transfer windows and 18 months.
In that time the man Moyes is trying to replace, Sebastien Haller, has even moved clubs.
And so too it seems has one of West Ham’s much touted striker targets of last year, Boulaye Dia.
Dia, 25, ended up joining Villarreal last summer for around €12 million (£10.2 million) having been heavily tracked by West Ham, according to Le10 Sport.
The world and its wife seemed to be crying out for Moyes to sign Dia last year.
In fairness he had enjoyed an excellent campaign with Stade Reims the season before with 16 goals in 38 games to his name (Transfermarkt).
And it was felt he had all of the physical attributes needed to succeed in the Premier League with West Ham.
This summer Moyes has made a move – and ultimately pulled the plug on a deal – for Dia’s Villarreal teammate Arnaut Danjuma.
Danjuma, like Dia before him, will not be joining West Ham.
And now Villarreal are shipping the Senegal forward West Ham wanted off to Italian minnows and it’s proof Moyes dodged a bullet.
Dia is reportedly in advanced negotiations for a €13.5m (£11.5m) transfer to Salernitana.
According to Sky Sport Italia pundit Gianluca Di Marzio and Football Italia, the clubs have already agreed on the fee for a deal which will be an initial loan with a clause to buy at the end of the season.
Salernitana were promoted to Serie A last season for the first time in over 20 years, then completed an extraordinary comeback in the final months to avoid relegation.
Now former West Ham target Dia looks set to be leading the line for the Serie A side after being dumped by Villarreal just one year after signing him.
It is further proof Moyes dodged a bullet by sticking to his guns and not signing Dia.
Although the evidence is there for all to see in his Villarreal record which saw him score five goals in 26 appearances.
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