Michael Keane says £15m Everton player keeps winning fitness drills in training

Everton’s pre-season is well and truly underway, and Sean Dyche will be striving to lay the groundwork for a season more successful than the last.

Sean Dyche can be a tough taskmaster, and the Everton squad will be working hard to reach his expected fitness standards ahead of the new campaign. According to centre-back Michael Keane, no one is doing more at this stage to impress than Neal Maupay.

As quoted by The Athletic, Keane said, “Neal (Maupay) has come back really fit. I think he’s put a lot of work in over the summer and he’s winning the running. It’s hard as a player but, come the first game of the season, you really feel the benefits.”

Maupay will be desperate to turn things around at Goodison Park for himself personally this season.

Things can only get better for Neal Maupay

Maupay joined Everton in a deal worth £15 million from Brighton last summer. The French striker went on to endure a torrid first campaign with the Toffees. The 26-year-old only managed one goal Premier League across 27 outings.

Iconic former Premier League forward Alan Shearer even went as far as to brand Maupay’s profligacy in front of goal as “embarrassing”, as quoted by Yahoo Sport. Things couldn’t really have gone much worse for the former France under-21 international since his move.

Dyche needs a far greater return from Maupay this time around. The Merseyside club are actively trying to bolster their attack this summer, but they also need their current forwards to become more proficient if they are to avoid relegation again.

By proving his excellent fitness levels and willingness to work in pre-season, Maupay has taken an important first step towards turning things around at Everton

Everton and Nottingham Forest enquiries drive up valuation of Manchester United forward Anthony Elanga

Everton and Nottingham Forest have made enquiries about Manchester United forward Anthony Elanga which has driven his value up, according to the Manchester Evening News (18 July).

The Toffees have shown an interest in the Sweden international as Sean Dyche looks to bolster his attacking options ahead of the new season.

Writing on their website, the MEN claim that after the club halved the value of the player to generate interest in a transfer both Everton and Nottingham Forest made enquiries which is now driving his valuation up.

“Forest are also interested in United forward Anthony Elanga. United had halved Elanga’s asking price to £10m after one start in the last eight months but enquiries from Forest and Everton are driving his valuation up,” they wrote (18 July).

It’s clear that Manchester United want to get rid of the player this summer and he is clearly open to a move away from Old Trafford too

Rushing in with a deal would no doubt be exactly what they want as they look for some sort of bidding war, but Everton need to be sensible with their funds this summer and know that their best option is wait it out.

We’ve already seen United drop their price when suitors weren’t forthcoming, so Everton know they’re likely to take a little bit less to get him out of the door and that’s when we can pounce to get a deal done.

Obviously we have to be aware of the fact there is other interest in him and those clubs can move at any time, but so long as we’re aware and don’t go rushing in like headless chickens this is a deal that can get done.

Elanga improves us and provides what we need in attack as an option, and at £10m could be a shrewd bit of business in the market just like James Garner was last year.