Crystal Palace have reportedly turned their attention towards Everton’s exiled forward Oumar Niasse as Frank De Boer looks desperately for signings that could change his current situation at Selhurst Park following yet another terrible start to his managerial campaign since leaving AFC Ajax.
However, the Eagles would still have to fight with the likes of newly promoted side Brighton & Hove Albion to land the Senegal international and Everton’s asking price of £10 million for their frozen-out striker could see the battle go down to the wire.
Manager Ronald Koeman had made it clear last season itself when he took charge of the club that he doesn’t see the forward in his plans anytime in the future. But, the player has largely remained an unproven prospect at the Goodison Park and lack of playing time in the senior squad means if he doesn’t move out, he could see his career going down in the dumps.
Most clubs have tried to get him on loan initially as Hull City did in the second half of last season, but the Toffees are unwilling to let him leave on a temporary basis on any condition. Brighton had reportedly made two bids for the vibrant striker to get him on loan with the option to buy at the end of the season, but the Merseyside club rejected it despite the added £750,000 loan fee on the last bid.
However, with just hours to go till the window closes, Koeman might finally give in. Niasse has a contract with the Merseyside club until 2020 and Everton wouldn’t want to pay his wages while he plays in the Under-23s.
Niasse has undoubted talent as he brings a terrific urgency in and around the D-box when he has the ball. In fact, it was his quick movements and persistence that attracted Everton to buy him from Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow in the first place. Roberto Martinez, Everton’s former manager, had to splurge a hefty £13.5 million in the winter of 2016.
Martinez was supposedly a big admirer but the player could hardly make any impact whatsoever with patchy form and fitness issues. Former Hull City manager Marco Silva, took him on loan last winter and managed to bring the best out of him in the short span. Niasse played well for the Tigers, scoring four times and notching up an assist in 17 games. He also scored in Hull City’s win against Manchester United in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg.
With just Christian Benteke up front, Boer would need someone like Niasse to ease some of the pressure off the Belgian striker and would be willing to take the risk on him.
