Mohamed Salah ‘didn’t enjoy’ playing against £8m defender, now Everton want to sign him

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Everton are in the race to sign Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate – a player who seemingly has history with Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah.

Everton aren’t exactly safe from relegation just yet but may have some transfer targets in mind if they stay in the Premier League.

Defensive additions have to be an absolute priority for Frank Lampard and co, with Everton looking incredibly weak at the back.

One interesting target has emerged in the last 24 hours. The Telegraph claim that Everton want to sign Mainz star Niakhate this summer.

It’s claimed that Mainz are willing to sell Niakhate for just £8million this summer. The low fee is because Nikahate is out of contract in 2023.

Newcastle United and West Ham are interested too and it’s no surprise.

Niakhate, 26, is big, strong and has a turn of pace. He’s left-footed, which is valuable in the modern game, he has served as Mainz captain and he’s a fine penalty taker.

At just £8million, Niakhate could be a huge bargain – and Everton fans will like his rivalry with Liverpool hero Salah.

Liverpool faced Mainz in a pre-season friendly last summer, meaning Salah came up against Niakhate.

As noted on the Bundesliga’s official website, Salah ‘didn’t enjoy’ playing against Niakhate at all.

Niakhate suggested there was no ill-feeling between the two players but they had a ‘good duel’, with Niakhate loving playing well against a star like Salah.

“It was a good duel between us. It was hard-fought, but that’s what I like about football,” said Niakhate. “No, there was no ill-feeling at all. We spoke after the game and laughed together, said thank you. It’s true that we went up against each other a lot during the game. But I wanted to show what I was capable of against big players like Mo Salah,” he added.

Everton have struggled to contain Salah in recent years, and Niakhate could be their man to revolutionise their back line.

It was only one game, and it was only in pre-season, but Everton may have seen something in Niakhate that makes them think he can slow down the Anfield hero.