Neal Maupay plays for Everton versus Bolton amid Boulaye Dia swap links
Exit-linked striker Neal Maupay started for Everton in their pre-season clash against Bolton Wanderers as he looks to save his Goodison career amid links with a swap deal for target Boulaye Dia.
La Citta reported (24 July) that the former Brighton forward could be used in a deal to secure the Salernitana striker, with the Toffees offering £21.5million plus Maupay, but his start in Tuesday’s friendly hints at a potential lifeline to continue at Goodison Park.
Dia has been admired by Everton for a long time, but financial fair play pressures have made it difficult to reach Salernitana’s £34.6million valuation of the Senegal international. The Serie A side are also said to be fans of Maupay, meaning an agreement could be on the cards.
Final warning?
The friendly fixture may represent Maupay’s final chance to impress Sean Dyche if he wants to remain in the Premier League, but he may have to be very convincing if he wants to stay.
Maupay has struggled at Everton. While the Toffees themselves were not firing on all cylinders last season, Maupay has underperformed and not matched expectations at Goodison Park.
His single league goal in 27 appearances last season is a very poor return on investment. The investment did not come cheap either after the Toffees splashed £15million on the Frenchman [BBC Sport].
While Maupay has never been greatly prolific in the top flight, with his best return only just cracking double figures with Brighton in his debut Premier League season, Everton would have expected more and now seem happy to use him in a swap deal.
Alan Shearer blasted the forward in February last season, calling his goal contributions “embarrassing” and claiming he offered “very, very little” in terms of threat [BBC Match of the Day, via Football365], showing his inability to function in the side last season.
His stats do not do him any favours either. His 0.08 goals per 90 (3rd percentile) and just 2.58 shots per 90 (48th percentile) show his ineffectiveness in this Everton side [FBRef].
Dyche must see something to his liking otherwise, a move to Italy could be likely but it does feel like more than a good performance against League One opposition will be enough to win over his manager.
Now perhaps Maupay wants to turn over a new leaf on Merseyside, but the time is ticking.
In other Goodison news, Goodison Park’s 27-year-old winger is reportedly “ready” to leave the club as Premier League and Saudi interest remain.