OPINION
After Marco Silva reportedly confirmed Oumar Niasse’s Everton future, Sandro Ramirez must not be sold to make room.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Everton manager Marco Silva has confirmed that Oumar Niasse will be staying at Goodison Park next season, as he’s a big fan of the 28-year-old striker.
“Of course, Oumar Niasse is in our plans,” the Portuguese coach said.
Regardless of past loyalties and manager favourites, Niasse shouldn’t be the club’s first choice striker this season because Sandro Ramirez is a much better player and should be kept at the club at all costs.
The 23-year-old signed for the Toffees for a bargain fee of £5.4million from Malaga last summer. He caught the attention numerous clubs around Europe due to his goalscoring exploits for the Spanish side, scoring 16 goals in just 31 games in the 2016/17 La Liga season.
The ex-Barcelona forward showcased his magnificent goalscoring ability that season, which is why the club bought him in the first place. However, for reasons that have not yet become clear, he hasn’t yet really been given a run of games in order to cement a place in the team.
His lack of first-team football was so evident that he spent the second half of last season on loan at Sevilla, now he’s back and he must not be sold, especially if it’s to make room for Niasse.
The Spaniard is a better player in every way possible. He’s a better finisher, more technical, better movement, can score long-range efforts and he’s much younger, which means he can still improve considerably.
The Senegalese striker’s best goalscoring season to date was in the 2015/16 season when he got 13 in all appearances for Lokomotiv Moscow, which is still not as good as Sandro’s best season. So why would Everton sell him and keep Niasse?
If it’s purely for footballing reasons, then so be it. But if Niasse was to be kept and Sandro was to be sold, the only explanation is due to the manager’s relationship with the player. That may be the case, but Everton’s season will be more successful with Sandro, rather than without.