Who is… Everton’s new hotshot striker Oumar Niasse?
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After suffering increased pressure from the disgruntled masses at Goodison Park in recent weeks, Everton boss Roberto Martinez has moved fast to bring in a new striker.
With Romelu Lukaku Everton’s only significant threat upfront having sold Steven Naismith to Norwich for £8m, Martinez has reinvested that money by landing Lokomotiv Moscow’s star striker Oumar Niasse.
The 25-year-old has been courted by a number of Premier League clubs, but Everton’s rumoured bid of around £13.5m has seen off any rivals.
Niasse was voted Russian Premier League player of the year for 2015, and he’s been in fine form this season too, scoring 12 times in addition to a bevy of assists.
Bags of pace and physical strength are two of the Senegalese international’s best attributes and they should go down pretty well in the blue half of Merseyside too.
Everton’s attacking football has won plaudits this season, and the Toffees have scored more goals then seven of the Premier League’s top 10 teams.
The deal would also break the current record for this January’s transfer window of the £12m spent by Newcastle on both Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend.
Niasse began his career in his native land with US Ouklam, earning a loan deal to Norwegian side Brann in 2012.
Injuries curtailed the move early on, but after one more season back in Senegal, Turkish club Akhisar Belediyespor came calling in 2013.
The step up in quality of the Super Liga proved no issue for Niasse, who netted 12 goals in 34 appearances, courting attention from some of the biggest club’s in Eastern Europe.
After just one season in Turkey, Niasse completed a £4m move to Lokomotiv Moscow in the summer of 2014, and quickly became a first-team mainstay.
Everton aren’t struggling for goals, but Niasse’s arrival should definitely heighten the excitement around Goodison Park.
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