You have to love Everton striker Oumar Niasse. The Senegalese striker’s story is now a well-documented one of not having a locker at Everton to actually going through a decent run of games and scoring goals for the Merseysiders.
Niasse is not the greatest striker in the world. In fact, he is not even the greatest at Everton. However, the guy’s attitude cannot be faulted.
Even during those dark days when he was frozen out at the club, there never seemed to be any complaints from the striker. He did one interview with the Guardian and even then, he was not that scathing of then-boss Ronald Koeman.
He may well have got back into the Toffees squad, but according to the Guardian, the striker may well be on the move in the near future with Brighton, Crystal Palace and West Brom all interested in the £13million rated star.
Niasse is a nuisance
In a complete contrast to his personality off the pitch, Niasse is an absolute nuisance to opposition defenders. Even when the 27-year-old is not scoring goals, he is working hard for his team.
He is not the most skilful or talented striker, as Koeman’s decision to completely snub him suggested. He worked hard to get back in the reckoning, though, which says a lot about the striker’s mentality.
He also has a knack for getting goals. The striker has started just five top-flight games this season and scored six goals. His goal to minute ratio is a goal every 101.6 minutes in the Premier League.
Will see not much first team action
A move is necessary for Niasse if he wants to play much football until the end of the season. The 27-year-old was already second choice striker behind young Dominic Calvert-Lewin, now he has competition from new £27million Turkish signing Cenk Tosun for the lone striker role.
Niasse’s prospects of playing football for Everton in the near future look very grim indeed. Everton boss Sam Allardyce has preferred the tall Calvert-Lewin to Niasse, as the youngster is better in the air, something needed to play Allardyce’s style of football.
Niasse deserves to be playing on a regular basis, even just for his professional attitude shown since his £13.5million move from Lokomotiv Moscow in January 2016.
The three suitors for Niasse’s services in January are down the wrong end of the table and need to add goals to their team. West Brom are second from bottom in the top-flight and odds of 4/5 to suffer relegation. The Baggies simply do not score enough goals.
Crystal Palace have Belgian international striker Christian Benteke. However, beyond the former Liverpool man, they have limited striking options. Boss Roy Hodgson will no doubt be looking to fix that problem.
Niasse held transfer talks with Palace on the last transfer deadline day. A move never materialised though and he stayed at Everton. He may now make that move in the coming weeks.
Brighton are another team that have struggled to score goals in the Premier League this season. The Seagulls striking options are Glenn Murray and Tomer Hemed, who will both cause teams problems. However, maybe Chris Hughton is looking to add a striker to give his team a different dimension.
It seems the final decision on his next destination will be Niasse’s. No doubt, he will choose the club most likely to give him first-team football over the coming months.
Oumar Niasse is unlikely to score a team 20-plus goals in the Premier League. However, he will chip in with some goals, just as he has done at Everton and in his loan spell at Hull City.
Has become a cult hero at Everton
Since his reintroduction to the Everton squad, Oumar Niasse has become a cult hero at the club, mainly due to his sheer hard work and determination to prove himself in a blue shirt.
The 27-year-old does not have enough talent for where Everton want to be in the near future. However, as a personality Evertonian’s will miss the striker if as expected he moves on in the January transfer window.
Who will sign Oumar Niasse in January?
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