Neal Maupay exclusive interview: Brentford striker on his Everton struggles, a potential partnership with Ivan Toney and more

Sky Sports exclusive: Brentford striker Neal Maupay opens up on his struggles at Everton last season, returning to west London after four years, scoring his first goal in 13 months, a potential partnership with Ivan Toney after the end of his team-mate's ban for betting offences and more

Digital football journalist @DanLong__

Monday 20 November 2023 23:39, UK

Neal Maupay's loan move back to Brentford on Deadline Day proved there are still rare occasions in modern day football when a transfer can simply pop up out of the blue.

There was no prolonged commentary on social media — and thus time for edgy opinions to be aired — it just happened — and, in fairness, it came as a shock.

Even the Bees — famed for their lateral thinking in every aspect — would surely not be interested in a player who scored just once in 27 Premier League games for Everton in 2022/23, would they?

More to the point, how would the Brentford fans react to the Frenchman coming in as a stop-gap replacement for the banned Ivan Toney? Fortunately, they welcomed him with open arms. His £20m departure to Brighton in 2019 was amicable and he went with their blessing.

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No one was more relieved at the way things had worked out than Maupay himself. The smile on his face when he spoke to Sky Sports from the window of his car after the deal was wrapped up said everything and more.

His first season at Goodison Park could hardly have gone worse, not just given his personal struggles in front of goal, but for the fact the Toffees retained their top flight place by a margin of just two points.

There is nowhere more apt to start this exclusive interview, which takes place in a chilly dressing room a few paces