Some Everton fans have been reacting on social media to Oumar Niasse’s output since joining the Toffees from Lokomotiv Moscow for £13.5million in 2016.
Former boss Roberto Martinez welcomed Niasse to Goodison Park at the close of the January window, having followed the Senegal striker for a long time and watched him excel in Russia with 13 goals over his final 23 appearances.
The current Belgium head coach rarely saw the most of what Niasse was capable of before being fired later in the year, with the forward failing to find the back of the net in any of his seven outings in Royal Blue that season.
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman likewise was left wanting more from Niasse during his spell at the Goodison Park helm, with the 5 ft 11 striker only making five outings under the Dutchman in all competitions and being sent out on loan to Hull City for the second half of the 2016/17 season.
Was Niasse the club's worst purchase of the past five years?
Yes
No
Niasse’s goals per game ratio under Koeman was certainly the best of his Blues career having scored four times under the former Southampton boss, while later hitting three in 16 under Sam Allardyce, none in his seven appearances under Marco Silva and is yet to score under Carlo Ancelotti.
Everton’s £13.5m investment in Niasse four years ago, then, has returned just nine goals in 42 games across all competitions – or £1.5m per goal.
Niasse has also earned £1,277,222.22 per goal having been handed a £55,000-per-week contract upon his arrival four years ago.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Niasse’s output for Everton…
Should have recuperated some of that money from Martinez’s payoff
— paddy (@Bartholomew53) February 12, 2020
There’ve been instances like this for years. I remember Melchiot at Chelsea being on one for years without playing. Some you win, some you lose. But the scout must’ve been pretty useless at his job.
— Bluenose English teacher (@mrpaul2014) February 11, 2020
Id tell him not to come in to training, stay at home
— joey foote (@joeyfoote) February 11, 2020
Imagine the most inept person you’ve ever worked with then imagine them earning that kind of money for doing it.
And don’t give me the whole “it’s not his fault we pay him that” he’s in a profession with a shelf life that we’ve all dreamed about and he’s happy to just grab 💰
— Azzurri Everton 🇮🇹 (@BlueNoseMikeM) February 11, 2020
That’s why he’s always smiling
— Gareth B (@efc3340) February 11, 2020
Let’s take it as a lesson learned.
— Paul (@pdwyer1987) February 11, 2020
The man is literally stealing a living. pic.twitter.com/PC8krwihsN
— The Gwladys Street (@TheGwladysSt) February 11, 2020
In other Everton news, Ancelotti has reportedly been ‘won over’ by an 18-cap man the club are expected to target in the summer.