Whelan tears into ‘stubborn’ Everton man
Everton striker Oumar Niasse is far from a regular starter for the Toffees, and so it’s bizarre to think that he would turn down a move away from the club.
However, Football Insider reported on Friday that that’s just what he’s done, with the Senegal international said to have rejected two loan offers from the Championship.
That’s despite him having played just one minute of first team action all season for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Niasse’s decision to say no to a switch to the second tier has raised the ire of former Premier League striker Noel Whelan.
“When two managers are allowing you to leave on loan I think it’s telling a story that you’re not wanted at the football club and you’re not needed,” he told Football Insider.
“As a player, to say no to playing Championship football is a foolish mistake. He’s going sit there rotting away, doing nothing.
“He’s been given an opportunity to play football for the second part of the season with a Championship side, get his match fitness, get his match sharpness, maybe turn the head of his manager that doesn’t want him.
“A real opportunity missed in my opinion and kind of stubborn, a stubborn attitude from probably a spoiled player who’s spat his dummy out. Go and play your football, go and ply your trade, go and prove people wrong.”
Is Whelan right, here?
In a word, yes.
Niasse hasn’t been playing this season, we all know that. One minute of first team action is a joke, and so you would’ve thought he’d be chomping at the bit for a loan move away.
This is someone who’s been out on loan before, with Hull City and Cardiff City, but those were Premier League moves.
He obviously doesn’t want to drop down to the Championship, and that’s his call. We’d perhaps look at it as a mistake, but if he doesn’t want to he doesn’t have to.
In other Everton news, BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson has delivered his prediction for the team’s clash with West Ham United.