Everton transfer news: Two sides linked to Neal Maupay move with club tipped to flog ‘weird’ signing
There has been interest mooted in Neal Maupay as Everton are tipped to cut their losses and move on the “weird” signing, by Ryan Taylor
The Frenchman’s season at Goodison Park has been a major disappointment, with just a single goal scored as the nominal replacement for Richarlison failed to deliver while often played in a system that didn’t suit him.
Signed for a quarter [BBC Sport] of the departed Brazilian star’s £60million fee [Sky Sports], Maupay has never looked at home at Everton and could now move on in this window after one unhappy campaign with two sides linked.
Express journalist Taylor told GIVEMESPORT: “I think it was a bit of a weird signing in the first place. There has been interest. I think he’s talked up a return to Nice. Salernitana tried to sign him before he went to Everton. It just hasn’t worked out.
“Sometimes that happens, to be honest, especially with a player that’s sort of worth around £15m. Although it looks safe money, it can also be a gamble for a team like Everton.
“I think they do need to cut their losses there and just sell for whatever they can get.”
Flop
Maupay’s form didn’t match what he had shown during his time at Brighton but he was mainly used as a Dominic Calvert-Lewin stand in.
Even when full of confidence he wouldn’t be a straight swap for the English striker so signing him as the primary back up when he isn’t particularly suited to be a lone forward in a 4-3-3 didn’t give him a great chance to succeed.
Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche probably needed to alter their system if they were to get the best out of him, but in a season which quickly unraveled again that never happened.
Dyche clearly doesn’t see him as a regular feature going forward based on his infrequent use of the 26-year-old so a quick exit is surely best for player and club.
The prospect of working out a deal with Salernitana that involved both Maupay and their Senegalese international forward Boulaye Dia is attractive.
But if another club put moderate money on the table it seems fairly probable that the manager would prefer to take it and attempt to reinvest in the market.
In other Everton news, a more successful Toffees attacker is also now “likely” to leave after a “good offer” arrived, according to Alan Myers.