Rennes’ £35 million Ligue 1 forward Martin Terrier was aiming ‘considerably higher’ than Everton this summer with the Premier League outfit failing to lure the former Lyon starlet away from French football, as reported by The Athletic.
Everton fans, let us introduce you to Neal Maupay.
Is there a more baffling striker in English football? A man who makes the simple look difficult, and the difficult look simple. On his Toffees debut – in Saturday’s tense 0-0 Merseyside derby draw with Liverpool – the former Brighton hitman gave Frank Lampard the presence he was crying out for in attack but missed two glorious chances to secure Everton’s first Goodison Park victory over their red-clad neighbours in 12 years.
That was Maupay in a nutshell; Exciting and exasperating. Thrilling but frustrating.
Everton fail to sign Rennes talisman Martin Terrier
Would Martin Terrier have taken the chances Maupay squandered?
Such a question is destined to remain rhetorical, however, with The Athletic claiming that the one-time Everton target was never tempted by the idea of joining a club who were first alerted to his talents when Terrier was a mere pup at Lyon.
The Toffees, after enquiring about the 25-year-old, were quoted £35 million. Terrier, however, was ‘aiming considerably higher’ than a club who survived relegation by the skin of their teeth last term. And, with all due respect to Everton, so he should.
This is a man who scored a career-best 21 goals in all competitions last season, after all. And if Terrier wants to force his way into Didier Deschamps’ France squad ahead of the Qatar World Cup, this probably wouldn’t have been the ideal time to join a club level on points with 19th place Nottingham Forest; one of only two teams without a win after six Premier League games.
“I will be at Rennes this season,” Terrier explains. “That is for sure and it is certain.”
One of France’s most ruthless marksmen could now sign a new, long-term Rennes contract.
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