Richard Keys mocks Everton after sharing John Textor takeover reports
Everton and their striker Neal Maupay were the subject of a sarcastic joke from Richard Keys as he discussed John Textor’s ongoing takeover push.
Speaking with Andy Gray on beIN Sports (24 August), Keys wouldn’t be drawn on a verdict over whether Textor would be able to complete a buyout at Goodison Park due to his 45 per cent stake in Crystal Palace.
The pundit also aimed at Maupay, mocking his poor goal record for Sean Dyche’s side after the former Brentford loanee was named on the bench to face Tottenham.
Keys said: “John Textor who wants to buy the club, first of all, has to sell a 45 per cent stake at Crystal Palace.
“Sean Dyche, of course, talking about still losing players; Calvert-Lewin the most likely of them. But again, there’s some encouragement there for you, because I just looked at your list of substitutes today…
“You’ve got Neal Maupay back – looking to add to his tally of… one goal, so far since he went to Everton.”
Richard Keys reacts to Everton takeover news
With less than a week of the transfer left, Maupay is far from the only striker who has big question marks over his future at Goodison Park, with a move away from Merseyside still on the cards.
As mentioned by Keys, Calvert-Lewin is the man who looks set to dominate headlines right up until the window shuts on 30 August [TEAMtalk, 8 August], with both his contract and a possible transfer up in the air.
The 27-year-old has entered the final 12 months of his existing contract, raising the possibility that if he doesn’t sign a new deal, he could indeed be sold if the Toffees want to avoid losing him for free [Connor O’Neill, 23 August].
Time is running out for that to happen, and that certainly doesn’t ease the pressure on Dyche as he looks to make the best of a squad which currently features just 14 fit and available senior players.
Maupay remains a distance down the pecking order with Beto a secondary choice behind Calvert-Lewin, but should the latter exit at short notice and Maupay still have no suitors, he’ll be thrust into the spotlight as a player Dyche has to depend on.
In other Everton news, a Toffees transfer target has hit the club with a setback as Sean Dyche looks to address his current injury crisis.
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