Everton’s £20m target Abel Hernandez outshone by Oumar Niasse at Hull City

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Everton have been linked with Hull City’s Abel Hernandez – though its another striker at the KCom that should have caught their eye.

So it turns out that Oumar Niasse is actually a competent footballer. Who would’ve thought it?

Amid the relentless volley of jibes at his expense, the reports that Ronald Koeman had deprived the striker of both a locker and a squad number before banishing him to the under-23s, you got the impression of a modern day Ali Dia, a player who has blagged his way into the professional game with a fake CV and a famous cousin.

Four goals in ten games on loan at Hull City, however, have offered a timely reminder why Everton felt it fitting to pay Lokomotiv Moscow £13.5 million for his services in the winter of 2015, as reported by the BBC, why the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea were reported to have monitored his progress.

“It was a difficult time at Everton,” he said in quotes reported by the Liverpool Echo. “I was like standing in the dressing room with the under-23s playing with them, travelling with them all the time.

“It was difficult, but I always kept smiling and always kept a positive mind to start again.”

Hull have the option of signing Niasse on a permanent basis at the end of the season and the striker, who netted twice in a vital relegation six pointer against Swansea City on Saturday, has suggested that staying on Humberside could be a possibility.

“It’s going to depend on my performances,” he added.

Though you have to wonder whether his performances have caught the eye of a man who discarded him without a second thought. Koeman doesn’t seem like the sort of man willing to swallow his pride and admit a mistake but the fact is that Niasse has already scored more goals in three starts at Hull than all but four Everton players all season.

Kevin Mirallas, Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman have netted just four each with Romelu Lukaku out on his own on 19.

Everton will obviously put a new striker at the top of their list of priorities in the summer but perhaps Koeman should at least consider giving Niasse a second chance.

The Sun claim that The Toffees are interested in Hull’s Abel Hernandez, valued obscenely at £20 million according to the Hull Daily Mail. But, at the moment, his on-loan strike partner is outscoring and outperforming him up front. And he’d cost Koeman nothing. Except maybe his pride.