Neal Maupay breaks silence as Everton exit talk emerges
Neal Maupay would be open to returning to Nice as speculation over his future at Everton emerges.
The Daily Mail reported on 29 May that Everton are interested in replacing the 26-year-old with Almeria striker El Bilal Toure.
According to Foot365 journalist, Ignazio Genuardi, the former Brentford man is not in the Toffees’ plans ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Maupay has since broken his silence on his future.
“Of course, that would interest me,” he said on a return to Nice (Nice-Matin, 7 June).
“Nice is my city, I grew up here, my parents still live in Valbonne, I live in Nice. Whenever I have a weekend or I’m on vacation, I’m here. It’s at my house. I love the city, the club.
“I have flourished in England for six years, but in Nice, I have experienced everything there and won everything as a youngster, the Gambar-della in particular. It really marked me.”
Good riddance
The sooner Maupay moves on the better. He’s been such a disappointing addition. But, what exactly were Everton expecting? The Frenchman is hardly the most prolific forward – we all knew this from his previous stints at Brighton and Brentford.
He’s a hard worker and a nuisance, but that’s about it. The Toffees need a goalscorer. Someone who is going to hit the back of the net on a regular basis and spearhead their attack next season. Many will advocate for Ellis Simms and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The jury is still out on Simms and Calvert-Lewin’s injury issues are now beyond a joke.
The England international cannot be trusted to stay fit. It’s getting to a point where the board should look to move him on for a significant fee. It would be a savvier business decision. The board have to be more street-smart during the summer window.
Over the last couple of windows, the board have been guilty of signing players who are well past their best. Younger assets have to be the route to go down over the next couple of months.