Everton striker on his way out

Oumar Niasse has had the adventure of a lifetime at Everton, filled with trials, tribulations and triumphs. And now he might get to write a new chapter in that saga as the Toffees are actively looking to sell him in this January transfer window.

The Guardian is reporting that a host of Premier League challengers are interested in the Senegalese forward, and are also all willing to pay the £13million that Everton are looking for. Ironically, that sum is quite close to the £13.5m the Blues paid for him when he arrived from Lokomotiv Moscow.

Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Bromwich Albion have all been linked with making a move this month for the hardworking player who is averaging an excellent 113.6 minutes per goal in the Premier League. Niasse’s goals tend to be the reward of industry as he fights for rebounds and second balls.

Persecuted and shunned by manager after manager, Niasse has somehow been with the Blues almost two years now, which includes a half-season loan to Hull City last season as well. In that time, he has cobbled together 21 appearances (seven of those in the starting lineup), scoring six times with two assists.

All the goals have come this season, with four for his tormentor-in-chief Ronald Koeman. Niasse very sanguinely said the past was behind him when asked about playing for the Dutchman this year, and likely bought the manager another month in the job when results had started going south to begin this season.

Blues love the underdog, and immediately took Niasse to heart even before the beginning of this season as stories of how poorly Koeman had treated him leaked out. His goals earlier this season cemented his place right next to other short-lived forwards like Denis Stracqualursi, Apostolos Vellios and Magaye Gueye who all scored three goals each in their time with Everton.