£15m player is keen to leave Everton before deadline day but there’s an issue

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Everton’s summer business may have been shrewd on paper, but on the pitch, it is yet to pay dividends.

This was never going to be an overnight process, especially with how tumultuous the Toffees were anyway, but fans might have expected slightly more than an opening-day defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, losing 3-0 in front of a disgruntled Goodison Park.

Fortunately, there is a long old season stretched out ahead of them to rectify these issues, but ideally Sean Dyche would like to add a few new faces to further strengthen their current position.

With their financial issues well-documented though, it has always felt like before they could make any significant investments they would have to sell.

So, despite the departures of Amadou Onana, Ben Godfrey and Lewis Dobbin, one or two more might be set to follow suit if they are to set up an exciting end to the window.

Neal Maupay could leave Everton this summer

One such name who could be headed towards the exit door is Neal Maupay, who unsurprisingly has no place within Dyche’s current setup.

Standing at just 5 foot 8, he is the antithesis of the kind of striker that the former Burnley boss has employed throughout his managerial career.

Preferring tall, powerful forwards able to wreak havoc on a backline, the Frenchman’s game instead consists of scuttling about, causing minor disruptions and sneaking up on unsuspecting defenders to poke in goals.

Never once has he bullied his opposite number though.

That would explain why L’Equipe is suggesting that Everton are happy to let him leave, whilst Maupay himself is keen to depart as well.

They appreciate the project being presented by Marseille, but will face an issue in negotiations due to the financial distress of the interested club.

If they are to iron out a deal, it might require the Toffees to subsidise some of the £15m man’s wages, which is not something that will interest Thelwell.

Maupay gave an update on his future not too long ago live on air, but there has been little movement since then.

Kevin Thelwell still has some dead wood to ship at Everton

Maupay is not the only piece of dead wood that Everton’s director of football will want to offload before the window is shut, however he might struggle to ship some of them off.

After all, Mason Holgate has failed to put himself in the shop window across two horrendous loan spells, and with a contract that expires next summer, will likely just stick around.

Michael Keane is another who falls into this bracket, although his presence in the starting lineup on Saturday suggests Dyche still values him somewhat.

That is, despite the fanbase being quite vocal about their thoughts on the centre-back.