Neal Maupay has addressed his outburst on social media after leaving Everton to join Olympique Marseille over the summer. 

The 28-year-old striker endured a disappointing spell at Goodison Park, registering just one goal in 32 appearances across all competitions, the same number of goals scored by popular ex-goalkeeper Tim Howard’s time at the club.

Maupay will now hope to get his career back on track in his native France at Marseille, who have signed him on loan with an obligation to buy. The striker managed a confidence-boosting eight goals in 31 appearances across all competitions on loan at former club Brentford last season.

The day before his move, Maupay stuck the boot in on Everton via social media.

Maupay replied to Fabrizio Romano’s post on X confirming the move to Marseille with a clip from The Shawshank Redemption, where the main character Andy Dufresne breaks free from prison.

https://t.co/H4AaFp4Iu2 pic.twitter.com/aJywOsdXgB

— Neal Maupay (@nealmaupay_) August 29, 2024

Neal Maupay explains social media post that fired up Everton fans

It’s safe to say Maupay’s post didn’t go down well with Everton fans, who were quick to remind him of his poor goalscoring record at the club.

One supporter even labelled Maupay the ‘worst signing in Everton’s history’, while another called him an ‘absolute clown of a footballer’.

Speaking in his first press conference as a Marseille, Maupay has explained his post, although he didn’t exactly back down.

“Supporters like to discuss, criticise, and celebrate and it doesn’t bother me because I consider myself a normal person and if everyone can tweet I can do it too,” said Maupay (via Get Football News France).

“I published a funny little video because my situation at Everton was known, I wanted to leave and the club didn’t want to keep me. So this little video was to say that I was relieved to leave the club.”

The post “I was relieved to leave” – Controversial Everton departure explains social media stunt that left fans fuming appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Former Everton and Barcelona star Andre Gomes is undergoing a medical ahead of sealing a return to French club Lille, according to reports. 

Gomes is a free agent following the expiration of his Everton contract, leaving Goodison Park having made 114 appearances for the club across all competitions since joining in 2018, registering four goals and seven assists.

During that time, the 29-time Portugal international — who was last capped by his country back in 2018 — spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Lille, notching three goals and two assists in 27 appearances to help them finish fifth in Ligue 1.

Ex-Everton midfielder Gomes undergoing Lille medical

According to reports from L’Equipe and Foot Mercato (via Get Football News France), Gomes arrived in Lille to undergo a medical ahead of his return to the club.

Gomes — who has also played for Barcelona, Valencia and Benfica previously — is understood to be signing a two-year contract at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Lille finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season, meaning they made the Champions League qualifying rounds.

Les Dogues went through two rounds of qualifying, beating Turkish giants Fenerbahce 3-2 on aggregate before seeing off Slavia Prague 3-2 over two leagues to reach the revamped League Phase of the Champions League.

Among the teams Gomes can now look forward to facing are Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus. The 31-year-old will also return to old stomping grounds with Lille facing his former Lisbon rivals Sporting CP and Everton’s Merseyside neighbours Liverpool.

The post Former Everton and Barcelona star on the verge of sealing move to Champions League club appeared first on CaughtOffside.

It hasn’t been the best start to the season for Sean Dyche and his Everton side.

The Toffees stayed up in the Premier League last season despite points deductions and a poor campaign overall, and their continued standing in the English top-flight is arguably what will have kept Dyche in the position for another season.

That, and perhaps because the club don’t appear to have any other option. A view that’s shared by Premier League co-creator, Jon Smith.

“Down at the bottom of the Premier League, Everton have lost their first three games of the season, just as they lost their first three last season – so at least they’re consistent,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

Everton urged to stick with Sean Dyche

“Things look a bit worse in 24/25, but I know Sean Dyche and he’s a great personal motivator so I’m banking on him to somehow turn it around.

“There does come a point when you can only turn it around so often, however. A moment when you have to say, ‘right, got to do something else.’

“It’s such a mess off the pitch at the moment that I don’t see them getting rid of Dyche because everything else is against them.

“I wouldn’t know who’s going to go in there, and whoever it is – if Everton were inclined to go down that route – would want a budget.

“Nobody knows what the budget is, because nobody knows whether the club can afford to finish their new stadium.”

Everton’s old manager, David Moyes, has been suggested as the club’s saviour in their hour of need, but that isn’t a view that Smith agrees with.

“I don’t think bringing back David Moyes – as has been mooted – is overly relevant at the moment. Moyes is a good coach, but everyone has their day and some of his best are behind him now,” he added.

“I’ve huge regard for David Moyes and maybe the whole emotional thing plays well. But I think it’s bit of an elastoplast rather than an operational fix.”

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Sep 9 2024, 22:27

With the Goodison Park era coming to an end at the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign, the last thing that the club need is to be waving goodbye to the famous old stadium on the back of entering their state of the art Bramley-Moore Dock home as a Championship club.

It’s a ground fit for a Premier League club, and Everton have always been the proudest of those.

The post “It’s such a mess” – Premier League co-creator implores Everton to stick with Sean Dyche for specific reason appeared first on CaughtOffside.

In his fortnightly exclusive column for CaughtOffside, Jon Smith, one of football’s first-ever agents and a man who was an integral figure in the forming of the Premier League, discusses Chelsea being a fascinating work in progress, why nothing has changed at West Ham despite all their new signings, why he can’t look beyond Man City for the Premier League title – and more! 

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Chelsea remain a fascinating work in progress

Chelsea are a fascinating work in progress, aren’t they?

The Sancho/Sterling thing for instance… Sancho is probably on the same kind of money as Sterling, and I guess he’s younger…

I’m not sure what’s happened with Sterling but obviously something’s gone wrong internally I would have thought.

You don’t just treat a player with that talent and history the way that he was treated. So I think the move to Arsenal is good for him and it’s almost like an internal swap with Sancho.

But what about the likes of Ben Chilwell? He’s on the best part of 200 grand, and he’s now stuck with the kids, which I find that a little bit strange. What happens if Cucurella gets injured?

Putting my agents hat on for a second, you’ve got a player that has to deal with the situation that he finds himself in, and one he clearly won’t like, but in my humble opinion he has to be a professional.

He’s being very well paid, and it’s what he does for a living.

If you’re a professional roofer and you don’t get on with your boss for some reason, and you throw a tantrum because the guy asks you to go up on someone’s roof, then you either do it or you walk out.

So if Chilwell’s that unhappy, walk out. Speak to the PFA for breach a contract.

It doesn’t work that way though as we know, however, so for the short time the player is on Planet Football, the rewards are big and he must behave, in my opinion, like a professional, even if maybe his employers aren’t.

Not that I’m not suggesting Chelsea aren’t of course, because there’s obviously stuff that’s going on that I’m not aware of there.

Brighton have done it again with Hurzeler appointment

I find myself praising Paul Barber and the team at Brighton again.

I mean, they just keep coming up with these names out of nowhere. Fabian Hurzeler, just 31 years of age from the German second division and he seems to have got it straightaway.

The players seem to respect him, though I’m only observing, and from what I’ve seen tactically they’re very adept.

I thought Arsenal looked good at the weekend but Brighton were fantastic.

Admittedly, Arsenal were down to 10 and gave the Seagulls huge respect, and they were certainly happy with that 1-1 draw at the end.

I can definitely see Brighton qualifying for Europe this year.

Decent enough window for Arsenal

I quite like one of the buys Arsenal made this summer; Calafiori.

I’m not sure about Merino because I don’t know an awful lot about him, to be honest. Calafiori and Sterling are two good buys for Arteta.

Pressure is right on ten Hag unless results change quickly

The pressure is always on when you’re Manchester United, and it’s more on the manager than it is on the ownership at this moment in time.

That’s because the ownership were perceived to have done the right thing by keeping him in place.

What I don’t understand is players, for example Casemiro… he was amazing when he first joined the club but what’s happened to him? Why has everything gone so far south?

I just don’t understand what’s going on United.

They’ve got a team of really good players, and it’s just not happening for them. Even Rashford, the eternal servant, just doesn’t look the part anymore.

So I’m kind of sticking my neck out really, but unless things turn around fairly quickly, there must be a Plan B – and the Plan B would would be to replace ten Hag.

It’s kind of more of the same at the moment.

Liverpool looking good under cool, calm and collected Slot

Interestingly enough, sort of across the road is Liverpool, and I have to say that the new regime looks very relaxed.

Arne Slot is calmly getting on with doing the same thing that his predecessor did, and without really adding to the squad as well.

They brought in Federico Chiesa at the end of the window but that really was the extent of their business (Giorgi Mamardashvili doesn’t join for another year).

So far, so good.

Everton must stick with Sean Dyche if they want EPL survival

Down at the bottom of the Premier League, Everton have lost their first three games of the season, just as they lost their first three last season – so at least they’re consistent.

Things look a bit worse in 24/25, but I know Sean Dyche and he’s a great personal motivator so I’m banking on him to somehow turn it around.

There does come a point when you can only turn it around so often, however. A moment when you have to say, ‘right, got to do something else.’

It’s such a mess off the pitch at the moment that I don’t see them getting rid of Dyche because everything else is against them.

I wouldn’t know who’s going to go in there, and whoever it is – if Everton were inclined to go down that route – would want a budget.

Nobody knows what the budget is, because nobody knows whether the club can afford to finish their new stadium.

I don’t think bringing back David Moyes – as has been mooted – is overly relevant at the moment. Moyes is a good coach, but everyone has their day and some of his best are behind him now.

I’ve huge regard for David Moyes and maybe the whole emotional thing plays well. But I think it’s bit of an elastoplast rather than an operational fix.

All go at Juve whilst Dybala wins the plaudits at Roma

Juventus under Thiago Motta are trying to change everything.

They bought a young lad from Atalanta called Koopmeiners, and I’ve watched some videos of him – he’s technically a really good player.

What’s more, he’s gone there in the hope of playing rather than just going straight into the team – that takes guts. Bravo young man.

I’m delighted for Roma fans too, after Paulo Dybala turned down the €75m on offer from Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League.

I hear a number of Roma fans all went to his house to thank him – a lovely little story.

Haaland and Man City already looking ominous

With Man City you can’t look further than Haaland can you. I mean, which planet is this man from?! Just astonishing, unbelievable.

That third goal was quite incredible.

It’s early days but already I can’t see much beyond City for the title again – unless they get a ‘hangover’ after Christmas.

New signings won’t make a difference at West Ham

I just wonder whether all of the new summer signings are going to make a difference at West Ham.

Yes, they had to do it and I think they’ve done well, they’ve bought a couple of decent players.

Wan-Bissaka I like and there are a number of others that were brought in with him.

I just don’t know what it is, maybe a gut feeling, that it’s not going to make a great deal of difference.

I love West Ham so I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for them, and I just hope it’s hope it’s going to be a good, fun year for them.

Tottenham looking to youth is the right way to go

The last word this week is on Spurs because I’ve not mentioned them yet.

I think it looks like they’re concentrating on youth now under Ange, doesn’t it? The likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall et al.

It’s an interesting experiment and one which, at the moment, I think is probably the right way to go for them.

The post Agents column: Look no further than Man City, brilliant Brighton, same old West Ham and much more appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The depths of Chelsea’s desperation in the transfer window has been exposed by the news that they were attempting to push a pair of players onto Everton in order to land one of the Toffees most important stars.

The West Londoners have had a mixed start to the 2024/25 season, with a thumping 6-2 win over Wolves, a 2-0 loss to reigning champions Man City and a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace the sum total of their three games so far.

A busy transfer window also saw 24 players moved on according to transfermarkt.

Chelsea wanted Calvert-Lewin in swap deal

It’s since come to light, via Give Me Sport sources, that Chelsea had tried to offer Everton Axel Disasi and David Datro Fofana in exchange for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Though the striker has shown no apparent sign of extending his contract with Everton and, as such, might be considered a sellable asset, there was never going to be a realistic chance he would be swapped with Disasi and Datro Fofana.

The former has played just 11 minutes this season (WhoScored), whilst the latter has just three Premier League appearances under his belt from two seasons ago (transfermarkt) before being sent out on loan.

It’s a bit of a head scratcher to think that Chelsea would believe that Sean Dyche would’ve been taken in to such an extent as to accept those two players in exchange for his main man.

What the potential deal does hint at is the West Londoner’s desperation to stay on the right side of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), and not falling foul of any other element of Financial Fair Play.

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Of course, the transfer window has now passed, but the pair can still be offloaded abroad and that may well be the Blues focus over the next few days.

Any reduction in wage bill is clearly of help to the club and time will tell if they have any late transfer market successes in that regard.

The post Chelsea’s attempt to con Everton into ridiculous swap deal doomed to failure appeared first on CaughtOffside.

David Moyes is reportedly in contention to return to Everton.

The Scottish manager was in charge of the Toffees for 11 years between 2002 and 2013 where he made his name as one of the Premier League’s most reliable coaches.

A move to Manchester United to replace Sir Alex Ferguson saw the 61-year-old draw a line under his time at Goodison Park though, and while things didn’t go to plan at Old Trafford, Moyes’ reputation remained intact.

Testing himself in La Liga during a one year spell with Real Sociedad, the former Everton boss returned to England where he managed Sunderland in 2016 before taking charge of West Ham the following year.

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During his two spells at the London Stadium, Moyes, although replaced by Julen Lopetegui at the end of last season, lifted the Hammers’ first major European trophy by winning the UEFA Conference League in 2023.

David Moyes in line for shock Premier League return

Now out of work and seemingly interested in making a return, according to a recent report from Football Insider, the 61-year-old is a candidate to replace Sean Dyche in the Goodison Park dugout.

Dyche has overseen an absolutely horrendous start to the season with last weekend’s game against Bournemouth one of the club’s worst ever results. Leading 2-0 with less than five minutes to play, the Toffees crumbled and ended up losing 3-2 following a trio of late strikes from Antoine Semenyo, Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra.

Pressure building on Everton to sack Sean Dyche

And Saturday’s result has inevitability heaped the pressure on the former Burnley manager. Although the 53-year-old is still in his role, failure to turn Everton’s fortunes around quickly could see the club’s hierarchy cut his contract short and bring Moyes, who would “love” to manage Everton again, back.

Dyche’s Everton are winless in their first three Premier League games of the season and, after losing to nil in all their matchups, have failed to score a single goal.

The post David Moyes in with chance of making Premier League return appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Everton looked set for their first win of the season after taking a 2-0 lead against Bournemouth, but a dramatic turnaround saw the Cherries secure a stunning 3-2 victory.

The Merseyside club took control early in the second half with goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, putting them 2-0 up and seemingly on course for their first three points of the season.

Despite their two-goal advantage, Bournemouth staged a remarkable comeback in the final 9 minutes of the match.

Antoine Semenyo ignited the rally with a goal in the 87th minute, followed by Lewis Cook’s header in the 92nd minute to level the score.

The drama reached its peak when Luis Sinisterra scored a brilliant header in the 96th minute, completing the Cherries’ extraordinary comeback and sealing a 3-2 victory.

Watch the goals below:

INCREDIBLE. IMPOSSIBLE. INSANE.

BOURNEMOUTH SCORE THREE GOALS IN THE FINAL MINUTES TO PULL OFF A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES AGAINST EVERTON. ? pic.twitter.com/kzsLBN3pGa

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 31, 2024

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The defeat compounds Everton’s dismal start to the season. After a 3-0 loss to Brighton in their opener and a 4-0 thrashing by Tottenham last week, Everton have now lost all three of their games so far.

The post (Video) Bournemouth score three in last 9 minutes to beat Everton 3-2 in stunning comeback appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Everton have submitted a deal sheet to try and sign Chelsea striker Armando Broja according to David Ornstein.

Chelsea have been trying to move Broja on all summer but have been unable to find a solution after a loan move to Ipswich with a £30m obligation to buy if the Tractor Boys stayed up fell through.

However, the Blues may have been handed a lifeline from Everton, who could complete a late deal for the Albanian striker.

Everton in for Broja

Broja endured a disappointing campaign with Albania at Euro 2024, but despite being surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge he still went on the pre-season tour of America, although he featured sparingly.

With the Ipswich move falling through it was expected the 22-year-old would remain at Chelsea until at least January, but Ornstein has reported Broja could complete a late move to Everton.

He took to X.com and said:

“EXCL: Everton submit deal sheet to sign Armando Broja from Chelsea. #EFC agree loan + £30m buy option. Ipswich Town out – #ITFC refused to accept #CFC terms in light of spell 22yo set to spend out injured. W/ @Paddy_Boyland @SJohnsonSport @TheAthleticFC.”

? EXCL: Everton submit deal sheet to sign Armando Broja from Chelsea. #EFC agree loan + £30m buy option. Ipswich Town out – #ITFC refused to accept #CFC terms in light of spell 22yo set to spend out injured. W/ @Paddy_Boyland @SJohnsonSport @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/a2h1EYM3Iw

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 30, 2024

Ornstein adds that Everton have been long term admirers of Broja and have until 1am to complete a move for the striker after submitting a deal sheet before Friday’s 11pm deadline.

Broja is expected to be out until mid October with a foot injury, which is part of the reason his loan move to Portman Road collapsed.

The striker suffered a serious ACL injury during the break for the World Cup in 2022 and returned to action last September, but failed to make an impact for the Blues.

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Sep 9 2024, 22:27

Chelsea tried to sell Broja in January, but he ended up joining Fulham on loan instead which turned out to up be a disaster as he only played 80 minutes of football.

With Neal Maupay moving to Marseille it means Everton now have space in their squad for Broja and they will be hoping they can complete a deal in time and bolster their forward options.

The post Chelsea handed boost as Premier League club submits last minute bid for £30m rated star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea are really leaving things late in terms of nailing down a striker in the current transfer window, and if their bid to sign Victor Osimhen fails, they could end up with an injury-prone replacement.

At the time of writing, it’s understood that Saudi Pro League club, Al Ahli, have not only agreed a deal with Napoli for Osimhen – and are just awaiting the player’s approval – but they’ve also agreed a deal with Brentford’s Ivan Toney.

Clearly, they’re hedging their bets but have covered themselves regardless.

Calvert-Lewin to Chelsea if Osimhen deal fails

At this stage it isn’t clear if the Blues can afford either Osimhen or Toney because of Financial Fair Play, and on that basis, according to Football Transfers, they’re monitoring Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s situation along with Arsenal.

In the last three seasons alone, the 27-year-old Everton hit-man has received a broken toe, a broken cheekbone, had four separate hamstring injuries, a knee injury, had general fitness concerns and been ill according to transfermarkt.

That’s hardly the best resume for a striker that would be expected to be the main man at Stamford Bridge and hit the ground running.

Not to mention that the Chelsea faithful will already be expecting to be disappointed if they’ve lost out on Osimhen and seen him replaced by Calvert-Lewin, with respect.

The Gunners might yet pip Chelsea to the post given that their need for a striker is as acute as the West Londoners.

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Sep 9 2024, 23:40

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Sep 9 2024, 22:27

Calvert-Lewin only has a year left on his contract and appears reluctant to sign a new deal at Everton, so could prove to be a low-cost option that Mikel Arteta will believe he can improve.

Until the 11pm deadline on Friday night, anything can happen, and fans of both Chelsea and Arsenal will be waiting to understand if either have managed to get a deal done in time.

The post Chelsea could be forced to sign injury-prone striker if Osimhen deal fails appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup has been made, with the Premier League big guns finally entering the competition. 

The seven teams playing in European competition — Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Aston Villa and holders Liverpool — will now join the rest of the pack.

Liverpool’s clash with West Ham United at Anfield is one of the standout ties of the round, with the likes of Man Utd and Arsenal drawing lower-league opposition in Barnsley and Bolton, respectively.

Read on for the full Carabao Cup round three draw, with all ties to be played the weeks commencing September 16th and 23rd.

Carabao Cup Round Three draw

Liverpool vs West Ham

Manchester City vs Watford

Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers

Manchester United vs Barnsley

Wycombe Wanderers vs Aston Villa

Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur

Walsall vs Leicester City

Brentford vs Leyton Orient

Blackpool vs Sheffield Wednesday

Preston North End vs Fulham

Everton vs Southampton

QPR vs Crystal Palace

Stoke City vs Fleetwood

Brighton vs Wolves

AFC Wimbledon vs Newcastle United

Chelsea vs Barrow

The post Carabao Cup R3 draw: Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool & Spurs enter appeared first on CaughtOffside.