Everton’s summer signings may have looked smart on paper, but so far, they have yet to deliver results on the pitch. This was never going to be an immediate turnaround, especially given the challenges the Toffees were already facing, but fans likely expected more than a 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion on opening day at a frustrated Goodison Park.
Fortunately, the season is long, giving Everton plenty of time to address these issues, but ideally, Sean Dyche would like to bring in a few new players to bolster the squad. However, with well-known financial difficulties, it has always seemed likely that they would need to sell players before making significant investments.
Despite the departures of Amadou Onana, Ben Godfrey, and Lewis Dobbin, more exits may be necessary to set up an exciting end to the transfer window. One player who could be on his way out is Neal Maupay, who does not fit into Dyche’s current plans.
Standing at just 5’8″, Maupay is the opposite of the type of striker Dyche typically prefers—tall, powerful forwards who can dominate a backline. Instead, Maupay’s game involves causing minor disruptions and sneaking up on defenders to score, without ever overpowering his opponents.
This explains why L’Equipe reports that Everton is open to letting Maupay leave, with the player himself also eager to move on. While both parties are interested in a potential move to Marseille, the French club’s financial issues could complicate negotiations, possibly requiring Everton to subsidize part of the £15m striker’s wages—a scenario that may not appeal to director of football Kevin Thelwell.
Maupay recently provided an update on his future during a live broadcast, but there has been little progress since then.
Maupay isn’t the only player Thelwell will want to offload before the transfer window closes, but moving some of them could prove difficult. Mason Holgate, for example, has failed to attract interest after two poor loan spells, and with his contract expiring next summer, he may just see out his deal. Michael Keane is another in this category, although his inclusion in the starting lineup on Saturday suggests Dyche still values him, despite the fanbase’s vocal criticism.
