The Lyon attacker has struggled for form and fluency this season but that has not stopped Everton making him their prime target.
Everton are ready to offer Lyon winger Rachid Ghezzal £100,000 per week to convince him to move to Goodison Park, The Sun reports, but has he done enough to earn such huge wages in Europe’s most opulent league?
The Algerian international enjoyed a stellar breakthrough season at Lyon in 2015/16, scoring eight goals and creating eight more as one third of a thrilling attacking trio alongside fellow in-demand attacker Alexandre Lacazette and youngster Maxwell Cornet.
Consequently, The Sun reports that Everton had agreed a £12 million fee in the summer, only for Ghezzal to reject their approach as he harboured hopes of moving to a more illustrious destination.
Nonetheless, a year on the Toffees could stand a much greater chance of nabbing one of their most long-standing targets. Although that, in itself, tells you a lot about Ghezzal’s difficult second season.
The 24-year-old is out of contract in the summer and his list of potential suitors appears to have decreased, thereby putting Everton right at the front of the queue alongside Arsenal, The Sun adds.
After all, Ghezzal’s reputation has taken quite a hit thanks to a tally of just two goals and two assists in 14 Ligue 1 appearances throughout the current campaign.
Ronald Koeman wants more consistency from his attacking players but, in truth, Ghezzal has only displayed his talent in the briefest of glimpses, a brilliant run of form in the second half of last season being the only truly prolonged spell of excellence in his career so far.
Furthermore, his inability to build upon his initial promise means he is in danger of being tarred with the ‘one season wonder’ tag.
He may soon be a free agent but Everton would be paying rather substantial wages for a player who, so far, has not demonstrated the consistency requited to make it at the top level.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
