New signing Oumar Niasse has revealed that former Everton midfielder Manuel Fernandes helped him make the decision to join the Toffees.

Niasse completed a permanent move to the Blues on transfer deadline day in a £13.5m deal, signing a four-and-a-half year contract in the process.

Fernandes had two loan spells at Goodison Park in 2007 and 2008, before breaking Evertonian hearts and making a last-minute switch to Valencia when a permanent move to Merseyside seemed to have been completed.

And Niasse, who can play anywhere along the forward line, stated that the Portuguese midfielder convinced him to complete his transfer to Everton.

“He [Fernandes] is one of my best friends in the [Lokomotiv] team,” Niasse said.

“We played together in Turkey for different clubs but then we joined Lokomotiv at the same time. It was so easy for me and him to make a connection.

“He is like a big brother to me – I am always asking him [for advice]. When Everton showed interest in me I asked him and he said it’s a great Club and if I can go I should go.

“He said that if I had the opportunity I should take that flight because Everton is a great Club and Liverpool as a city is good. He has said a lot of good things about here.”