Lyon star Rachid Ghezzal has snubbed a move to Everton.
Lyon star Rachid Ghezzal
According to L’Equipe, Lyon playmaker Rachid Ghezzal has closed the door on a move to Everton, rejecting a switch to Goodison Park – because he wants to play European football this season.
The Toffees have splashed the cash on the likes of Ashley Williams, Idrissa Gueye and Yannick Bolasie, but manager Ronald Koeman may yet be looking to bring in more new faces before next week’s transfer deadline.
Adding another playmaker or winger appears to be a priority, and whilst Sky Sports claim that talks with Porto over a deal for Yacine Brahimi are progressing well, Everton appear to have failed with a move for one of Brahimi’s international team-mates.
French newspaper L’Equipe report that Everton had made a move to sign Lyon star Rachid Ghezzal, but the player has rejected a possible switch to Goodison Park as he wants to play European football this season.
Ghezzal, 24, hit eight goals and eight assists last season as he stepped up as key player for Lyon in the absence of injured forward Nabil Fekir, whilst he also has five goals in six caps for Algeria.
The Algerian international, who can play as an attacking midfielder or left winger, starred last term, and had been lined up for a move to Goodison Park, with Koeman keen to exploit the fact that his contract expires next summer.
However, Ghezzal has allegedly rejected the chance to join Everton, and has completely closed the door on a possible move to Merseyside having informed the Toffees of his decision earlier today.
Ghezzal reportedly prefers to renew his contract at Lyon, whilst he isn’t willing to leave for a club not playing in Europe this term – a major factor in his decision to reject a move to Everton.
Everton can now turn their attentions elsewhere, and with talks believed to be underway for Brahimi, the Toffees may still end up with a talented Algerian international playmaker after all.
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