Forward’s decision to reject Everton move in the summer has backfired, should have taken the money

 

One of Everton’s big targets last summer, Rachid Ghezzal doesn’t appear like he is going to end up in the Premier League next season.

Rejecting a move to Ronald Koeman’s side because he felt he had a better chance of playing regularly at Lyon, it seems his decision has backfired.

Competing with the likes of Mathieu Valbuena and Nabil Fékir is already difficult, while the arrival of Memphis Depay from Manchester United over the course of the January transfer has only reduced his game time even more, and the 24-year-old has started just 16 games for the Ligue 1 side in all competitions.

With a contract expiring in the summer, and seemingly very little intention to prolong his Lyon adventure, Ghezzal is currently available on a free transfer.

However, now that Everton have signed the likes of Ademola Lookman, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Donkor on loan, Ronald Koeman will have little interest in bringing in Ghezzal to Goodison Park, and it seems that either a stay in France or a move to Spain is the likeliest outcome for the forward.

Sevilla, according to France Football, appear to be the latest to have declared their interest, while Monaco, always up for a bargain, have also made it clear they would be willing to offer him a contract.

Sometimes, choosing not to follow the money pays off, but in this case, Rachid Ghezzal would probably have been better off saying yes to the improved wages Everton were prepared to give him.