Already the author of a hat trick two weeks ago, Boulaye Dia made two more on Sunday, November 8, in the spectacular draw of his club, Reims, in Lens (4-4). The Senegalese striker is the top scorer in Ligue 1 with eight goals in eight days ahead of Parisian Kylian Mbappé. And it is attracting more and more recruiters’ attention.
The paradox is not new, but it always has something that may surprise you a little. Stade de Reims is fighting to stay in Ligue1 at the beginning of the 2020-2021 season, while its striker Boulaye Dia is competing at the top of the scorers. The Senegalese had already settled on the throne with their compatriots from Metz Ibrahima Niane and the Parisian Kylian Mbappé (6 goals each) on October 25, after his Hattrick made an hour-long race in Montpellier (4-0).
On November 8, Boulaye Dia is again at the top of the rankings. And this time he is alone with eight goals in as many matches played. Rémois was still brilliant in the draw that his club got in Lens on Sunday (4-4).
From amateur level to Ligue 1 top scorer in two years
On the first of his two goals of the day, n ° 11 helped a bit by Jean-Louis Leca, the goalkeeper for Sang et Or, the author of a hand error (54th). On the other hand, Boulaye Dia did everything alone for a brilliant action: at the entrance to the area, the striker examined three Lensois before dribbling Leca and scoring in the cage empty (81). A real target for a safe attacker.
Admittedly, it was not enough to offer the victory to Reims, too crumbly in defense and in extra time. But the Senegalese international, who had his first friendly against Morocco in early October, continues his remarkable personal performances. Author of half of the goals for the Champagne Club, he has the feature that everyone has scored goals.
Boulaye Dia’s development is impressive. In 2018, at the age of 21, he played at amateur level, at Jura Sud Foot, after an atypical career and failed contacts with the gyms in AS Saint-Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais when he was a teenager. Convincing in National 2, the striker got his eyes on Reims, promoted to Ligue 1 2018-2019. For his first season, Boulaye Dia appeared little by little (18 championship games, 3 goals). During the financial year 2019-2020, truncated by Covid-19, it gained momentum (24 league matches, 7 goals). And this fall, he’s driving the counters crazy.
Recruited by a more exclusive club this winter?
A few weeks ago, Boulaye Dia’s future was uncertain. His performance in Reims had already attracted clubs interested in his profile during the summer transfer window. Olympique de Marseille had asked about it. And Stade de Reims, aware of the player’s market value, was ready to discuss a departure. The English club Brighton was also on the move, says the newspaper Made, according to which Reims leaders waited around € 10 million to accept a resignation.
In the end, after negotiations until the last day of the transfer window, the striker who celebrates his 24th birthday on November 16 has remained. “I’m not frustrated because I mentioned the possibility of staying in Reims (…). I feel good here, I’m ready to have a good season, he told the channel Téléfoot. But what if the more exclusive formations return to the fee during the winter transfer window? Everything will be possible.
Mathieu Lacourt, head of Reims, confirmed this to the channel Telefoot On October 6, shortly after the summer transfer window closed: “As part of our project, we must respect the release vouchers we give to players. If a good project presents itself to him in January and we find it financially, he will be able to benefit from it. Now we would be happy to keep it all season. ”Boulaye Dia says he “wants to stay” but “does not know what tomorrow will bring”. If he continues to stack goals, the future looks bright.
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