It appears Rachid Ghezzal might not be continuing at Lyon after all.
This is, at least, what the player’s older brother and advisors have told Le Progrès in France.
Just a few weeks ago, the forward seemed ready to settle at the French club long-term, yet a difference of opinion on certain details are proving ‘fatal’, according to the French newspaper.
It would appear that after a very productive meeting between Pascal Yvars, the player’s agent, and Lyon, the club sent a different offer ‘far from the promises’ made in order to re-sign.
The breaking point? “Rachid doesn’t have any sporting guarantees, which is what we want. He was going to sign a new contract, but for what? To play when?”, said his brother Abdelkader.
A huge contributor to Lyon’s good form towards the end of last season, Ghezzal has only made two starts for the French club this time around, mostly because of Nabil Fékir’s return to fitness.
Ghezzal’s older brother continued: “Everton made an exceptional offer financially (in the summer), but it wasn’t as good on a sport level. Rachid has his head in the right place, he’s aware, and we need to know what’s best for him football wise.”
Lyon’s lack of guarantees is a big problem, and with his contract expiring in June 2017, the player could leave on a free if approached by another club from January onwards.
His agent explained: “We’ll see in January/February where the team is at. For now, Rachid is just a rotation option, and we don’t want him to live through what many have before.”
Could Everton return with a new offer in the transfer window with the prospect of a free deal on the horizon?
They’ll just need to promise him some time on the pitch at Goodison Park.
It’s certainly something to keep an eye out for.
