Oumar Niasse almost left Everton on deadline day to join Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.
Everton striker Oumar Niasse has told Sky Sports that his proposed move to Crystal Palace on deadline day was a “difficult day”, as the Senegalese failed to complete a transfer to the Eagles.
Interim boss David Unsworth is preparing his Toffees side to face Roy Hodgson’s Palace on Saturday afternoon at Selhurst Park, as the Merseyside club look to build on their enthralling 3-2 win over Watford.
Niasse, 27, has resurrected his career at Goodison Park following a loan to Hull City during the second half of the 2016-17 campaign, where he scored five goals in 19 outings.
Now, the £13.5million signing from Lokomotiv Moscow has notched up another five strikes in just eight games for the Toffees and is quickly establishing himself as Everton’s first-choice striker after the club sold Romelu Lukaku.
Niasse claimed that he was present at Selhurst Park on deadline day with the clock ticking, but an hour before the deadline struck, something made the striker change his mind.
“It was a difficult day, that night when I went there, to have everything about to sign,” said Niasse. “Just one hour before the window closed I didn’t sign. They know why, I know why, I’m not going to go deep on that.
“I’m feeling thankful and happy to go back to Everton. Now it is a different challenge, we are in a not good position. They are worse but it is going to be a difficult game.”
Unsworth will be desperate to secure his second win as caretaker manager as he remains in the running to take over permanently at Everton, following Ronald Koeman’s sacking last month.
Three points for the the Toffees could see them climb to 12th place, if Leicester City, Stoke City and Southampton all drop points over the course of the weekend.
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