Cardiff City sign Oumar Niasse on loan from Everton

Credit: PA Images

Cardiff have signed Everton striker Oumar Niasse on loan for the rest of the season.

Niasse becomes Cardiff's first signing of the January transfer window and he could be quickly followed by Nantes striker Emiliano Sala, who is expected to undergo a medical on Friday.

"I'm relieved because I thought it was done yesterday," Cardiff manager Neil Warnock said when told at the end of his pre-match press conference for Saturday's game at Newcastle that the Niasse deal had been completed.

"It has been a little bit unrestful this morning, something I could have done without.

"But it's nice to know that he's available for selection (at Newcastle). Now it's all sorted out I can just concentrate on the game."

Senegal striker Niasse, 28, has had a bit-part role at Goodison Park since arriving in a £14million deal in January 2016, going out on loan to Hull two years ago.

Emiliano Sala is expected to become Cardiff's second January signing Credit: PA Images

Sala is expected to become Cardiff's second January signing in a club-record deal, although the transfer is unlikely to be completed in time for him to feature at Newcastle.

"We're optimistic about that," Warnock said.

"It's around £15million, but that's what strikers cost. I like him, he's a hard worker."