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Neal Maupay finished at Everton as club line up Beto summer move
Everton have been heavily linked with a move for Udinese striker Beto – and that could be very bad news for summer signing Neal Maupay.
According to the Times (1 February), the Toffees saw a bid of £22million plus add-ons rejected by the Serie A side, with the 25-year-old striker having a release clause of £35million.
TuttoUdinese also claim (15 February) that Everton are closely monitoring the Portuguese forward’s situation ahead of the summer window.
Maupay signed for the Toffees in the summer of 2022 and made a decent first impression in a Blue shirt, getting on the scoresheet in the 1-0 win over West Ham United. However, the strike against the Hammers has been his only goal contribution in what has been a miserable first season at Goodison Park.
Things haven’t yet improved under Sean Dyche, with the former Burnley boss opting to start with youngster Ellis Simms in the Merseyside Derby. Two substitute appearances for Maupay indicate that he may not be in the boss’ long-term plans.
He’s contracted to the club until 2025, and at 26, does still have some resale value. If Everton do pursue a summer move for Beto, then the writing could very much be on the wall for the former Brighton forward. Dyche will be assessing his options over the coming months and if Everton secure their Premier League survival, Maupay’s future could be in doubt.
He’s yet another example of a player who is on a downward spiral, as opposed to a younger player who could develop whilst at Goodison Park. It’s certainly one for Evertonians to keep an eye on.