Everton have reportedly rejected a bid from Marseille for striker Neal Maupay. The French club are claimed to have made a loan offer with the option to buy in an attempt to bolster Roberto De Zerbi's attacking options, which include former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.
Maupay did not feature for Everton in their 3-0 defeat by his former club Brighton on Saturday. The 28-year-old spent last season on loan at Brentford and could be sold before the transfer window closes.
It is reported that Marseille made an offer to loan Maupay for the season to cover for an injury suffered by Faris Moumbagna. The proposal included an option to make the move permanent if the Frenchman impressed under De Zerbi.
According to The Athletic, that offer has been rejected by the Toffees. The Goodison Park outfit will reportedly only sanction an exit for the player if they receive either a permanent offer, or a loan with an obligation to buy.
Maupay has not played for Everton since May 2023 and is one of the players they will consider offloading before the August 30 deadline. He has scored just once in 32 appearances for the Merseyside club since signing in a £15m deal from Brighton in 2022.
Last season, he struck six goals in 31 appearances on loan at Brentford. It is claimed that Marseille are one of several suitors, and would provide a first spell in France since he left Saint-Etienne for Brentford in 2017.
Marseille have enjoyed a big-spending summer, which has included the additions of forward pair Greenwood and Elye Wahi. Around £63m has been spent on new players to help De Zerbi spark a Ligue 1 title charge.
A 5-1 thrashing of Brest on Saturday was the perfect start. Greenwood scored twice in the victory. De Zerbi claimed that his goals will ‘calm’ the controversy over his move, with some fans unhappy over signing a player who was charged with attempted rape, engaging in controlling behaviour and assault in 2022.
The case was subsequently dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service and Greenwood spent last season on loan at Getafe from United.
“I am happy that he scored. It will calm the controversies that surrounded his arrival,” De Zerbi said. “Mason Greenwood is a player different from the others, he has an extraordinary level.”
De Zerbi told L’Equipe earlier this summer that Greenwood was “the first player I called” after being appointed as Marseille head coach following his exit from Brighton. He continued: “I [told him] that when a player becomes my player, I’m the first to pin him to the wall when he makes a mistake.
“But towards the outside [world], I will always defend him as I would defend my son.”
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