Everton

Oumar Niasse explains decision to stay at Everton

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 11 October 2016

Everton striker Oumar Niasse reveals that he stayed at the club as he wants to play in the Premier League, and insists that he has no problem with Ronald Koeman.

Everton striker Oumar Niasse has revealed that he chose to stay at the club this summer as the right alternative never arrived for him.

The 26-year-old was told by Ronald Koeman early in the summer that he had no future at the club despite making just two Premier League appearances since his £13.5m arrival in January.

Koeman has since admitted that he "can't understand" why Niasse stayed on at Goodison Park, but the Senegal international has not given up hope of breaking into the first team.

"It's not only about having opportunities and then, you're going to leave. I always think about my career – to make good choices. Yes, I had opportunities but I wanted to play in the Premier League and it's because I know I can do a lot of things in the Premier League. That's why I am keeping my head, even if it's hard now," he told The Guardian.

"Anything can change. Koeman just wants the best for him and, in two months, if I can be the best for him, he will take me, because he doesn't have any problem with me and I don't have any problem with him.

"It's football and bigger players than me have had this problem with their coaches. How many times did Real Madrid say they didn't want Lassana Diarra and, at the end of the season, who was playing?"

Niasse also revealed that he doesn't even have a locker with the Under-23 team.