Everton: Niasse could still play crucial role next season
A new striker will be the least of Everton’s priorities this summer. If Cenk Tosun cannot push on, Oumar Niasse may be relied on in 2018-19.
There are a few certainties for Everton as attention turns towards the 2018-19 Premier League season. Recent transfer rumours suggest that the Blues are in the market for midfielders, and defenders. For the second successive season, a large-scale revamp is possible.
In January, organisation focus turned to offense, as Sam Allardyce secured the signings of Tosun and Theo Walcott. Walcott has played consistently well since his arrival from Arsenal, scoring his third goal for Everton against Newcastle last Monday.
Tosun has scored four for Everton, but has failed to notch since his brace against Stoke in mid-March. Admittedly, the Turkish forward is likely still adapting to the Premier League.
However, at this point, he could well be another Nikica Jelavic, rather than the next Romelu Lukaku. If this is the case, Niasse could play the starring striking role next season.
Everton’s striking options
Everton will likely start the season with Tosun up front, supported by squad players in Henry Onyekuru, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Niasse.
Currently, the majority of Toffees fans would say that Tosun is the team’s best striking option. However, he has been subject to criticism recently. HITC reported that some sections of the fanbase were displeased with Tosun’s blunt performance against Newcastle.
If Tosun fails to make the grade, Niasse is the best option at Everton’s disposal. The gangly forward has scored seven goals from 13 shots on target this season, starting only nine times (Squawka). In fact, I calculated Niasse has scored 0.66 goals per 90 minutes of league football. Calvert-Lewin has managed 0.20.
The eye-test suggests Niasse is a useful option too. Although he lacks the aerial ability of Calvert-Lewin and Tosun, his tenacious attitude sees him cover a lot of ground and continually put the opponent under pressure.
Tosun, as many analysts point out, is reliant on supply. Niasse however can create chances through forcing opposition mistakes. If the Blues cannot develop their playmaking ability in the summer, Niasse may be the best fit for our game.
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Of course, the ideal answer would be to sign another striker to compete with Tosun for the number one spot. However, this is just not feasible.
Everton urgently need defensive support, and must make several acquisitions to improve their midfield too. Moreover, there aren’t enough assets in the squad to balance the books in outgoings.
Even if the Blues could afford to, they could well fall foul of Financial Fair Play rules if they attempted to sign a top class striker in the summer alongside players to fill all the other crisis positions in the squad.
One striking option would be to sign back-up on the cheap – with Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun recently mooted in the rumour mill. However, there is no guarantee that a bargain signing will provide more firepower than Everton’s Senegalese striker.
Niasse needs to stay
Earlier this month, the Senagalese press reported that Niasse could leave Everton in the summer. This however seems like a short-sighted decision. Simply put, it places too much impetus on Cenk Tosun to succeed in 2018-19.
Next: Latest transfer rumours and other stories
Niasse will not be a crucial player next season, insofar as he will become a top-tier Premier League striker. However, it is very possible that he could be Everton’s consensus best striking option come this time next year.