Former Premier League stalwart Danny Murphy admits he was ‘absolutely gobsmacked’ when Everton decided to pay £15 million to sign Neal Maupay from Brighton and Hove Albion over the summer, speaking to talkSPORT (4 January, 10.30am).
Now, Maupay has never been the most prolific of centre-forwards.
There is a reason why many Brighton supporters spent much of his time at the Amex dreaming of an upgrade; someone capable of putting away the oh-so many opportunities carved out by the likes of Leandro Trossard and Pascal Gross.
26 goals in 102 Premier League appearances is hardly disastrous. But nor is it the calling card of a top-quality number nine.
And when you consider that Everton lost Brazil’s first choice striker over the summer – Richarlison swapping Goodison Park for Tottenham Hotspur – Maupay was always likely to represent a substantial downgrade.
Frank Lampard under threat at Everton as players like Neal Maupay struggle for form
“I was absolutely gobsmacked (when Everton signed Maupay),” admits Murphy. “He’s not a goalscorer.”
Maupay has found the net just once in 13 Premier League games so far under Frank Lampard. His only goal came all the way back in September too; the one-time Brentford forward threatening to become something of a scapegoat amongst a fanbase growing sick of expensive and ill-fought-out additions.
“There’s a real problem now; the amount of money being spent (in recent windows) means they haven’t got it now to spend,” Murphy points out.
“So what do you do in this window? Do you try and get some loans? Do you cash in on (Anthony) Gordon and (Jordan) Pickford?”
Everton have now lost eight of their last 11 games in all competitions; Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat to a stylish, well-coached Brighton leaving the under-fire Frank Lampard on the brink of the sack (talkSPORT).
And if Everton do find themselves under pressure to sell before they can buy, finding potential suitors for underperforming and over-paid players will be easier said than done. Who is going to take over Abdoulaye Doucoure’s £100,000-a-week wages, for instance?
Does anyone really want to sign Michael Keane, Yerry Mina or Tom Davies?
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