Transfer story
Crystal Palace seem to have redeemed their season after making a horrific start to the new campaign. For the first two months, the Eagles looked set to be relegated from the Premier League. However, the shrewd tactics of Roy Hodgson coupled with some brilliant individual performances have helped them gain some points work their way up the ladder.
Hodgson’s team sit 14th in the league table, but they are just two points ahead of the relegation zone. Any minor slip-ups can dampen the hard work done by the manager and hence Hodgson is keen to add some firepower to his attack in the January transfer window.
The good folk over at Liverpool Echo have reported that Everton striker Oumar Niasse could be joining the Eagles this month. Roy Hodgson is adamant about signing him.
Why Niasse?
Crystal Palace have been frustrated by their lack of goal-scoring exploits this season. Christian Benteke has been an utter disappointment as the Belgian has netted just once in 16 Premier League appearances this season. He has often looked woefully out of touch and immobile inside the box. Hodgson’s team has scored just 20 goals in 22 Premier League games this season. Things have gone so bad, that Wilfried Zaha, a winger-cum-creator in chief for Crystal Palace has been their top scorer with four goals.
Naturally, if they want to steer their way clear in the second half of the season, Palace would need the help of a proven goalscorer. Someone who could help them convert those loose balls into goals. Zaha has been in scintillating form this season but his work has often been undone due to Crystal Palace’s inactivity in the opposition box.
Final verdict
Oumar Niasse has been a squad player at Everton and has hardly been given the respect that he deserves. Niasse was sent out on loan to Hull City in the second half of last season. The striker was however called back to the Toffees at the beginning of the current term. Things went downhill when he was asked to train with the U-23s.
He has since scored five goals and assisted in one of his 11 appearances in the League. Five of his outings have been as a substitute and hence I guess his numbers have been pretty good for a middle-tier club.
Niasse has shown that he can score goals from tight angles and hence is a surprise element inside the box. He can bully the defender well and his runs are hard to mark too. Moreover, it can be said that he can shine, once given the perfect opportunity to do so. At Everton, with the arrival of Cenk Tosun, it seems highly unlikely that Niasse would get some playing time. Hence, a move to Crystal Palace could be beneficial to all parties involved.
