19/08/2024 47comments  |  Jump to last

Olympique Marseille have had an approach to sign Neal Maupay on loan knocked back by Everton who are said to be holding out for a permanent deal for the striker.

According to L'Equipe yesterday, the Ligue 1 club are after a striker after Faris Moumbagna ruptured an ACL and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines and had identified Maupay as potential cover.

Marseille are reported by The Athletic to have offered a season-long loan deal with an option to buy but the Blues are keen to offload Maupay and recoup as much of the £12m they paid Brighton for him two years ago as they can this summer.

Maupay is out of favour at Everton as he enters the final year of his contract but his French roots and Roberto de Zerbi's knowledge of him from facing him in the Premier League as manager of the Seagulls could make him a good fit for Marseille.

 

Reader Comments (47)

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Ian Wilkins
1 Posted 19/08/2024 at 22:33:46
We couldn't be that lucky…

What a great acquisition he was!

Gavin Johnson
2 Posted 19/08/2024 at 22:44:33
I wonder how much the loan fee would be, if there is even one at all..?!

He'll probably go out on loan for nothing and then he's out of contract... What a truly awful signing Maupay has been. I never rated him when he was at Brighton and thought he was strange signing when he came in.

Thelwell has done a pretty good job all things considered but Maupay has been a rare misstep from him.

Jamie Sweet
3 Posted 19/08/2024 at 23:54:46
When we're linked with a player, I believe it would always be wise to check the other clubs fan forums to see what the general feeling is regarding that player - from the people who watch him every minute of every game.

I remember when we were linked with Maupay, heaps of Brighton fans were saying they'd drive him to Goodison themselves. That's always a bit of a red flag for me.

Now I'm sure we'd have plenty of fans who would gladly carry him on their backs to France if they had to.

Bang average player and a bit of a dick too, if his social media presence is anything to go by.

Alex Parr
4 Posted 20/08/2024 at 00:27:11
He's actually someone I would keep.

He's a decent player – he just hasn't been used properly at all.

Ben King
5 Posted 20/08/2024 at 00:29:27
Surely they have a decent full-back we can swap him with?
Paul Kernot
6 Posted 20/08/2024 at 02:30:29
Out of interest, Alex, where would you play him?

Who would he replace, not only now but when the whole squad is fit to play?

Christine Foster
7 Posted 20/08/2024 at 02:39:23
Alex, to be honest, as I have said on another thread, regardless of who plays up front for us, the main problem is the lack of creativity (no James, no Sigurdsson, no No 10 – just Doucouré) and the lack of pace in attack.

Without any of the above, we are limited to corners and set plays (which we are crap at as no one can hit the target from a free kick).

So, to be fair to any forward, I just wouldn't have a clue if they were worth keeping or not. That's the issue with Calvert-Lewin, Beto, Chermiti, Maupay, and has been the issue since we sold Lukaku, Digne, lost Sigurdsson, kicked out James, Baines retired, Barry retired, Cahill retired, Rooney booted.

Trawling back to articles in the media regarding his release from Burnley, it is a sobering read, with many of the same issues to the fore. The complaint was that he stabilised the ship but was never able to move it on and consequently Burnley fell. It has an all-too-familiar ring.

Alan J Thompson
8 Posted 20/08/2024 at 04:22:04
Do Marseilles have any decent juniors that we might consider for a straight swap?

Or don't they fancy taking Maupay full-time when they may get him for free at season's end? Or change their minds?

Lester Yip
9 Posted 20/08/2024 at 05:42:26
I have just watched some goals by him over his years in the Premier League. It's quite a surprise that he scored tap ins, headers (yes, you hear me right), mid-range, outside the box, lobs, even rainbow kicks. He was the penalty taker for Brighton.

I can only say that Brighton's manager knew how to utilise him in their setup. Lampard, who brought him in, had no clue. Samewise, Richarlison was so bad at Spurs but it doesn't necessarily mean he turns into a shit player.

He's not a Dyche type of player. So he needs to be moved on. But it doesn't mean that he's a bad player. It's painful to say but he's a better finisher than Calvert-Lewin.

Bobby Mallon
10 Posted 20/08/2024 at 05:49:48
He's only been awful because he's never ever been played as a two with Calvert-Lewin.
Danny O’Neill
11 Posted 20/08/2024 at 06:19:51
Alex, Christine and Bobby say it for me.

Just as I've stopped blaming managers (to a degree), any striker playing for Everton in recent seasons is on a forlorn hope, up there on their own.

He could have played off Calvert-Lewin. He's not a bad player, just not a lone striker.

Paul Hewitt
12 Posted 20/08/2024 at 06:42:32
He scored 8 goals in a poor Brentford team last season, more than any of our players.

Like posters above have said, he's never been played in his right position just behind a striker. Typical Everton.

Andrew Brookfield
13 Posted 20/08/2024 at 06:55:29
I'd rather have him than Doucouré in the 10, but then I'd rather have Ndiaye, Lindstrøm, or Harrison before Doucouré.
Mark Rankin
14 Posted 20/08/2024 at 09:29:36
Some players find a home at a club, if he’d have turned up and knocked a few in early doors and got a run in the side things might have been different but ultimately he couldn’t force his way in and didn’t have the attitude/ability and possibly managerial buy-in to come good eventually, so, for both parties he needs to move on and Everton sadly will get financially rinsed on this one.
Joe McMahon
15 Posted 20/08/2024 at 10:20:15
Christine, absolutely hits the nail on the head. Many strikers have failed at Everton and not necessarily because they are no good. Andy Johnson and James Beattie both came to Everton on the back of scoring over 20 PL goals in a season and fail at Everton. How many Everton strikers have managed that in the last 35 years? I can only think of Yak and Lukaku.

The Everton way of an isolated striker chasing lost causes. I felt sorry for James Beattie as I thought he was quality. DCL, Maupay and many others would be more effective in a team who's priority is to score and indeed win games with a switched on midfield, not keep it tight and nick one.

Denis Richardson
16 Posted 20/08/2024 at 11:29:22
He’s not a bad player just completely not the sort we need. It’s been many years since we played a little and large combo up front.

He could do ok in a proper 442 or 411, playing next to a larger man. However, I can’t actually remember the last time we played two proper forwards together on a regular basis (Campbell/Radzinsky?). Ever since Moyes brought in his 451 (460 on a couple of occasions) Goodison has been a bit of a graveyard for strikers for the best part of 20 years. Ironically you’d think he’d do ok next to Calvert Lewin but Dyche would never play that.

Maupay has been useless at Everton, a complete panic buy, gifting Brighton £15m for a player they were happy to get rid of. However, he just wasn’t the player we needed so not all his fault. Brentford fans seem to love him.

Sean Kearns
17 Posted 20/08/2024 at 13:33:35
We play defensive and both our starting wingers are from relegated teams (McNeill and Harrisson)… we could have Mbappe up front and he would struggle.
Martin Berry
18 Posted 20/08/2024 at 13:45:14
A striker in the Prem needs size, strength and speed if played as the lone striker, sadly Maupay does not have those attributes.
That said if we played a system where a second striker plays close to the target man, then a striker like Maupay may be more effective.
Sadly few Everton strikers become prolific because we don't play a two joined at the hip upfront.
I hope he moves on, is happy with his football, but most importantly Everton get a fee upfront not a loan to help our rebuild.
Sean Kearns
19 Posted 20/08/2024 at 14:04:25
Pickford, Keane, Tarkowski, McNeil, Harrisson and I think Doucouré were all bought from relegated teams. That's over 50% of our starting lineup from Saturday.

We have a loser's mindset that needs correcting…. Moshiri spunked £500M to give us that team. What the actual fuck???

Alex Parr
20 Posted 20/08/2024 at 14:50:40
I think he'd play with off DCL personally. watching Doucoure again at the weekend further emphasised he barely counts as a footballer - hes done well for us with important goals but he cant carry the ball well, pass well, tackle well...
For that '10' role as the second striker / most advanced midfielder / press-starter... Ndiaye > Maupay > Doucoure
Tim Marchant
21 Posted 20/08/2024 at 15:08:16
We've rejected the offer of the loan, according to the BBC.

Can only think that is down to money we are expected to contribute, or we're just looking to sell, not loan again

Anthony O'Sullivan
22 Posted 20/08/2024 at 16:01:01
He never had a chance in our long hoof ball system playing up front on his own.

Playing off DCL and getting some flick ons would be a different story. I saw a few games last season in a similar little and large line up and he was way more effective than anything we have on the pitch today.

Derek Powell
23 Posted 20/08/2024 at 16:23:42
DYCHE HAS TO GO
Fred Quick
25 Posted 20/08/2024 at 16:27:04
Derek @23
Dyche may well go, if he believes he's not appreciated at Goodison by the owner/board and fans. A reasonable outcome would be England offering him the national job and Carsley coming to Everton.
Dale Self
26 Posted 20/08/2024 at 16:30:54
No he won't. Place a bet
Billy Shears
27 Posted 20/08/2024 at 17:38:58
New owners talking to our next Gaffer...

What system,will you employ?

An Attacking one,cos your footy has been fucking dire for 30 years on and off!

So what formation will you play?

Either 5-3-2,4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1,but there'll be definitely two Strikers up top to give us a genuine chance of winning ANY game regardless of the opposition...home or away, League or Cup... foreign or domestic or pre-season game!

Welcome to our Club,lad...now fucking win us a fucking trophy and regular wins at Mordor!

No problem...thank you,I'll give you all THE Best Blues team ever fucking seen ok...just keep the funds coming and I'll do the rest!!!

Derek Powell
28 Posted 20/08/2024 at 18:44:25
Fred Love to see lee Carley at the helm
Mark Taylor
29 Posted 20/08/2024 at 18:55:15
I know it's not everything but I think I lost faith when I realised just how slow he was, quite possibly the slowest forward I have ever seen, almost embarrassingly so.

I had in my mind when we bought him, small but nippy

Tom Bowers
30 Posted 20/08/2024 at 19:07:56
Seems like we can never get shut of the bums we paid good money for !!

So now we may get Begovic back. I guess we need 2 keepers instead of 2 fullbacks.

Is the current backup injured.

Tom Bowers
31 Posted 20/08/2024 at 19:07:56
Seems like we can never get shut of the bums we paid good money for !!

So now we may get Begovic back. I guess we need 2 keepers instead of 2 fullbacks.

Is the current backup injured.

David West
32 Posted 20/08/2024 at 19:20:20
I'd agree that unless we are selling him 8m would be a result, then keep him
Unless a loan frees money for a RB & LB.
Keep him

The squads so thin and players already look goosed, can he really do worse than dacoures recent form ?
We will probably have an injury crisis at some point, oh hang on, I mean another one, as we are 1 game in and already struggling to fill the back 4.

8 goals last year !!! For Brentford. Scoring 8 goals He's definitely not a Dyche player !!!


David West
33 Posted 20/08/2024 at 19:26:58
Fred 25 Our owner loves Dyche.
He's basically giving him bus fare & dinner money to keep is in the prem.
He's done it so far.
Moshiri probably can't belive his luck !
The only way he will get the sack, is if it looks like we are going to get relegated.

Last year we were terrible, but other teams were worse.
Are the teams who come up of a better standard this year ? I'd say yes, and they are spending too.
If we get a terrible start, the board can't hesitate this year.

Dale Self
34 Posted 20/08/2024 at 19:33:08
We have a terrible start because injuries will prevent Dyche from risking others. He knows where points can be picked up with deployment of the new talent.

He isn't going to risk it all against Brighton and Spurs with players who don't yet know their partners' tendencies, as Frank would have. Deal with it or do one.

Roy Johnstone
35 Posted 20/08/2024 at 19:43:11
Lampard signed him and had no tactical nous. He had to run round like a dog chasing a stick.

At that point, we needed a striker for backup as Richarlison was the goal threat as Dom was injured. Never happened.

I think there's an element of Thelwell asking Frank what he wanted, and Frank didn't know.

Ian Bennett
36 Posted 20/08/2024 at 19:54:46
Broja going on loan to Ipswich.
Les Callan
37 Posted 20/08/2024 at 20:06:13
Martin @ 18.

Our current striker doesn't possess any of those attributes.

Ben King
38 Posted 20/08/2024 at 20:20:42
All teams strengthened except Everton yet we think Dyche can play expansive football.

Do you think he wants to play a 39-year -old at right-back?

Brian Wilkinson
39 Posted 20/08/2024 at 20:24:08
Sherif is a decent forward, just come on
Rob Halligan
40 Posted 20/08/2024 at 20:28:03
He’s a big fucker, Brian!
Edward Rogers
41 Posted 20/08/2024 at 20:28:59
Wondered what had happened to Sherif, and the other lad, Ebere?
Jim Bennings
42 Posted 21/08/2024 at 06:04:44
Lampard signed Maupay over Brereton Diaz who we could have got for £4M more at the time.
Sam Hoare
43 Posted 21/08/2024 at 07:22:39
I believe Maupay only cost £11M as opposed to £15M, which I thought was decent business even if it wasn't an obvious fit.

I'm surprised there's not been more demand for him; in the league last season, he managed 6 goals and 3 assists in 1300 minutes which is a good return.

Hopefully he can find a loan with an obligation to pay between £6-8M for him which should mean a minimal loss. Decent player, bad fit.

James Fletcher
44 Posted 21/08/2024 at 09:17:17
I would rather have Maupay up front with Calvert-Lewin than Doucouré.
Pat Kelly
45 Posted 21/08/2024 at 09:42:27
We were lucky to see him in his best years.
Andy Crooks
46 Posted 21/08/2024 at 09:43:52
You're on form today, Pat!
Martin Farrington
47 Posted 21/08/2024 at 10:08:23
Pat @45,

Yes, he certainly is a great watch on X (Twitter).

Mark Murphy
48 Posted 21/08/2024 at 18:41:51
Brereton Diaz is an over rated shithouse.

So, peas in a pod then…


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