He may earn a reportedly obscene wage at Everton but would Lyon’s Rachid Ghezzal represent an astute addition to Ronald Koeman’s squad?
Rachid Ghezzal may be a free agent in the summer but that does not mean Everton plucking him from Lyon would represent good value.
Although, according to the Ligue 1 giant’s president Jean Michel Aulas, the Algerian forward is edging closer to the exit with Premier League rumours still abounding despite a rather ineffective campaign, Goal reports.
Ghezzal exploded onto the scene at the Parc OL last season, another exciting young talent in a Lyon side packed full of superstars-in-waiting from Alexandre Lacazette to Corentin Tolisso and Nabil Fekir.
However, perhaps distracted by relentless speculation over his future, the 24-year-old has failed miserably to maintain his impressive early form in Lyon colours, netting just two times in 11 league starts this season.
And, after Memphis Depay arrived in France during the January transfer window, Aulas admits that Ghezzal could be the latest homegrown talent to fly the Lyon nest.
“We’d anticipated the departure of Rachid Ghezzal [when signing Depay], even though it hasn’t happened,” he said in quotes reported by Goal. “We’re still in discussions with him.”
Nonetheless, the fact that Lyon have seemingly secured Ghezzal’s replacement suggests his future lies away from Ligue 1 with The Sun claiming in January that Everton were willing to offer the forward a monstrous £100,000-per-week pay packet.
His performances this season suggests he’d almost be stealing a living on such a wage at Goodison Park but with Yannick Bolasie ruled out for the long-term and Gerard Deulofeu’s Everton career appearing over, Ronald Koeman needs to replenish his stock in wide areas.
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