One of the stars of the Championship last year was young French forward Neal Maupay who had a phenomenal season, scoring 28 goals in all competitions – 25 of which came in the Championship. The 22-year-old forward has scored 41 goals in his two seasons with Brentford and has now been linked with a move to a host of clubs, including Premier League side Aston Villa.
As per Sky Sports, a host of clubs are interested in signing him, with Sheffield United, West Ham United, and Brighton the other three clubs linked with a move for him. The report states that the Championship side will demand £20 million for their most prized asset.
Let’s take a closer look at Neal Maupay and why so many clubs are chasing him:
Strengths
Maupay’s main strength is his finishing, which was on display in the 2018-19 Championship season, where he scored 25 goals while adding 8 assists to his tally. A quick player who likes to take on the opposition defence while also having the ability to shoot from distance, Maupay is a clever operator, who can play in and around the box and can bamboozle defenders with his dribbling and pace.
The 5’7″ striker averaged 3.3 shots per game last season and made 1.3 key passes per game. Maupay is a versatile player who can play in the No. 10 role as well as a winger, but it’s in the centre forward position where he’s most deadly. A poacher who comes alive in the penalty box, Maupay will score plenty of goals if he’s given the right service.
Weaknesses
Maupay isn’t the biggest player or striker around, and it’ll be interesting to see if he can adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League. He is also a feisty player who can get frustrated if things aren’t going his way. The mental side of the game is an aspect where Maupay has to work on. He has also been criticised for his diving, which won’t go down well with a Premier League audience and might hamper his overall gameplay if he shows early signs of trying to influencing the referee.
Verdict
Maupay is an exciting talent who can light up the Premier League with his goals and energy in the final third, and should be on the shortlist of mid-table clubs in the Premier League.
