LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer News

On trial under Moyes in 2012, M’Baye Niang could finally join Everton – but may cost £15m

General view before the game (REUTERS)
Follow us on Google Discover

Everton are being linked with a move to sign M’Baye Niang.

General view before the gameGeneral view Goodison Park

Recent reports from Calcio Mercato have claimed that Everton are interested in signing AC Milan forward M’Baye Niang – and are ready to pay £15million to sign him.

Niang, 22, spent the second half of the season on loan at Watford following a January move, and notched two goals and two assists in 16 Premier League appearances in a promising spell.

Watford's M'Baye NiangM’Baye Niang

The French attacker – who can play out wide or up front – won’t be joining Watford permanently, but a Premier League stay could still be on the cards.

Calcio Mercato report that Everton are keen to land Niang, and could pay around £15million to secure his signature this summer as Ronald Koeman pursues attacking reinforcements.

Watford's M'Baye NiangWatford’s M’Baye Niang

The links are particularly fascinating given that Niang actually went on trial with Everton back in 2012 (Liverpool Echo), when David Moyes was at the helm at Goodison Park.

Back then, Niang was one of Europe’s up-and-coming young stars after hitting five goals in 30 games for Caen in his native France, and the Toffees were allegedly in negotiations to sign him as a 17-year-old, before AC Milan swooped in to sign him.

Watford's M'Baye Niang shoots at goal past the challenge of Manchester United's Antonio ValenciaWatford’s M’Baye Niang shoots at goal past the challenge of Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia

Now, five years on, Niang hasn’t really lived up to his potential; with just 12 goals in 77 games for Milan, and two five-goal loan spells with Montpellier and Genoa, Niang hasn’t become the star many predicted he would.

Koeman may believe that he can get the best of Niang though, and he could finally join Everton – to the tune of £15millon – five years after he came so close to joining the Toffees under Moyes.

Would you like to see Everton sign Niang?