Oumar Niasse, the in-form Lokomotiv Moscow striker, is set for a £15m January move to the Premier League, with a host of clubs monitoring his situation.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have scouted him extensively over the first half of the season and each of them are looking to strengthen up front this month.

Everton, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also keen on the Senegal international, who has been voted the Russian Premier League’s player of 2015. In 21 games for Lokomotiv this season he has scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists.

The 25-year-old has helped the club to third place in the league, five points behind the leaders, CSKA Moscow, and qualification for the last 32 of the Europa League; Lokomotiv finished top of a section that included Sporting Lisbon and Besiktas.

Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco have already had bids turned down for Niasse and there are other clubs in mainland Europe that are interested. But his heart is set on England for personal and professional reasons; his wife is based in Manchester.

Niasse is blessed with strength and explosive pace and he can lead the line on his own. He has been used as the spearhead in Lokomotiv’s 4-3-3 formation.

Niasse began his career with Ouakam in Senegal and, after a brief spell with Brann in Norway, he moved to Akhisar Belediyespor in Turkey in 2013. In his one season at the club he scored 15 goals in all competitions. Lokomotiv then paid €5.5m (£4m) to sign him.