By David Woods

18th Jan, 2020 | 8:15am

Premier League side offer Leeds striker on loan, cost them £16m in 2016 - report

The word that Leeds United are after a new striker is being heard around the country. 

It’s reached Goodison, where Everton have reportedly contacted Leeds to offer Oumar Niasse on loan.

That’s according to Football Insider, who claim that Everton are willing to loan him out for the rest of the season, with his contract expiring in the summer.

Leeds have a shortlist of strikers they want, headed by Che Adams, but Ralph Hasenhuttl wants to hold onto his man.

Marcelo Bielsa said in his press conference on Thursday (live in the LUFC app, 12.30pm) that he wanted a striker but wouldn’t sign someone for the sake of it.

He also warned against signing someone who hadn’t played much and would take a long time to get up to speed.

All these things would count against Niasse who has only played one minute of Premier League football this season.

Niasse has scored nine goals in 40 appearances for Everton, following a £16m move from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2016.

Niasse has been out on two loan spells since he’s been at Everton – to Hull and to Cardiff. He scored five goals in 19 games for Hull, but didn’t score in 13 appearances for the Welsh side.

We’re not convinced that Niasse is the man Leeds need or that Bielsa would want. But, the one thing going for him is that he’s available.

In other Leeds United news, MOT View: Leeds can pull off major transfer coup as journo says club offer ‘by a mile the best’