By Terry Phillips
Everton striker Oumar Niasse has arrived in Cardiff to complete his loan move to the Bluebirds – after the club enquired about Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini.
But Emiliano Sala’s proposed move to South Wales has been delayed after he was sent on from the Nantes subs bench in their French Ligue 1 fixture against Nimes on Wednesday.
That effectively rules out any chance of Sala arriving in time for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle United, although it is believes Kenneth Zohore has recovered from injury and available to return.
Cardiff have agreed terms with Everton on 28-year-old Niasse’s loan deal which will bring him to Wales until the end of this season.
Club chief executive Ken Choo has confirmed the move and Niasse will sign after his medical on Thursday.
The Senegal international joined Everton from Lokomotiv Moscow two years ago and has scored eight goals in 31 appearances.
Niasse has struggled to make an impression this season and has played just seven times without scoring, with his last appearance coming in the 1-0 defeat at Brighton on December 29.
Belgian international Fellaini was a regular at Manchester United when Jose Mourinho was manager, but he does not figure in the plans of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The experienced defensive midfield player, who can also play in attack, did make a late appearance for United against Cardiff City, Solskjaer’s first game in charge, but has not featured since.
The 31-year-old was left out of United’s matchday 18 in the last two fixtures.
Solskjaer is willing to sent Fellaini out on loan this month and it is thought he was considering steering the 6ft 4ins player towards Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds. Norwegian Solskjaer has a good relationship with City chairman Mehmet Dalman, but it would only work if the Niasse deal fell through.
Argentinian forward Sala is thought to be keen on a move to Cardiff City from Nantes, but it looks certain he won’t fly in until at least next week.
He replaced Rene Krhin after 72 minutes of Nantes’ 1-0 defeat against Nimes, although it is still thought an £18m transfer could be completed next week.
It was thought Sala had pulled out of the Nantes squad for Wednesday’s fixture against Nimes, but he was named among on the bench.