Reports claim Everton are in talks to sign Badou N'Diaye from Stoke, but they’d be much better served making a shock swoop for West Ham’s Pedro Obiang.

What's the word?

According to Sky Sports, Everton could sign N’Diaye as part of the deal to send Ashley Williams to Stoke.

The Senegal international is “keen” on a return to the Premier League, and Everton are probably just delighted to get rid of Williams.

However, if the Toffees are seeking an energetic midfield maestro, they could do a lot worse than looking to East London, where Obiang could leave West Ham.

According to Sky Sports, Sampdoria are chasing the Spanish midfielder, as West Ham look to revamp their midfield.

The 26 year-old, who scored one of the goals of the season last year, could look to move away for more regular playing time as he enters his prime, and his impressive mixture of long passing, tough tackling and wiry dribbling could be perfect in Marco Silva’s midfield.

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Doucoure 2.0?

While Richarlison was extremely impressive under Silva at Watford, the Hornets’ best player last season was Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Frenchman has the strength and game reading ability to help out defensively, and the energy and eye for a pass to get forward and help create and score goals. Obiang could fulfil this exact role in Silva’s new side.

The Spaniard joined West Ham from Sampdoria in 2015, and has racked up 67 Premier League appearances for the Hammers, despite spending some time out with injuries.

He averaged one aerial win, 2.5 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 1.3 fouls per games last season. His athleticism and intelligence make him an excellent defensive midfielder, able to swoop in and steal possession at any moment. He loves to get stuck in, which should endear him to the fans on Merseyside straight away.

What separates Obiang from your standard defensive midfielder though is his ability on the ball, able to weave his way out of tight spaces with his wiry strength and impressive close control, similar to Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele.

The 6 ft 1 midfielder has an eye for some audacious passes, completing over two long balls per game last season while boasting a pass completion rate of 81 per cent. He also loves to crack a few shots from distance, which can come in handy when struggling to break down a deep defence.

All in all, Obiang offers the game reading ability of Morgan Schneiderlin, the energy of Idrissa Gueye, and the audacious long shots and passes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, all in one neatly wrapped package. He is one of the most underrated players in the Premier League, and would be a much better signing for Everton than N’Diaye.

So, Everton fans, which midfielder would you rather sign? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…