Currently on duty with the Senegal national team, Boulaye Dia left Italy unhappy after a loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers was denied to him by Salernitana on transfer deadline day.
The striker really wanted to move to the Premier League, but was blocked from doing so, which caused him to be left out of the squad against Lecce, with his team losing 2-0.
On Monday, talk of him being fined emerged, and Corriere dello Sport on Tuesday provide a bit more information about the situation surrounding the Wolves target, which appears to be far more dramatic than first thought.
They explain the Serie A club are currently studying ‘the best possible path’ to punish the player for his behaviour, and there is talk of a fine worth 15% of his monthly wages, which would equate to €30k or so.
That aside, Salernitana know this needs to be resolved, as the striker remains a ‘technical and financial asset that must be recovered quickly’, because the team simply isn’t the same without him.
The 2-0 loss to Lecce showed that, and his presence in front of goal was missed, which will be exactly why Wolves wanted him in the first place.
With him now halfway across the world, there is hope he returns from international duty having cleared his mind, although Morgan De Sanctis’ decision to turn down the Wolves offer hit him very hard.
In fact, Corriere dello Sport claim that before leaving to go with the Senegal squad, ‘he had threatened not to play again’ until the market reopens, meaning January.
Something Wolves will undoubtedly be keeping an eye on over the coming weeks.
But unlike other internationals, Dia was nowhere to be seen at the gathering in the build-up to Salernitana’s home clash against Torino. His absence has opened the door to a series of speculation over his future in Salerno. However, the 26-year-old has returned to the Stadio Arechi and will soon reunite with Paulo Sousa’s squad, as per Tuttomercatoweb.
Dia enjoyed a stellar maiden season in Serie A after joining Salernitana on loan from Villarreal in the summer of 2022. He tallied 16 goals in 33 league outings in the previous campaign, with only Victor Osimhen and Lautaro Martinez bettering his scoring record. Then, it came as no surprise Sousa’s side triggered a buyout clause in his deal a few months ago.
While Dia has never officially asked to leave Salernitana, his future was among the main talking points in Italy during the transfer window just finished. Numerous sides from Italy and abroad displayed interest in his services, but a move failed to materialize, forcing the Senegalese forward to stay put.
It’s uncertain whether he’ll be in the squad on Monday when Salernitana host Torino at Arechi. Dia’s return would be massive as Sousa’s men seek their first league win of the season.
