Neal Maupay's options run out as surprise move to Greek giants falls through with striker's Marseille future looking bleak

Maupay's options are narrowing by the minute as he looks to secure a move away from Marseille. The former Brentford and Nantes forward was close to joining Sassuolo in Serie A on Monday, followed by a move to Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki on Tuesday. Neither move came to fruition, though, leaving Maupay's future in limbo.

Maupay appeared close to securing a move to Serie A, with Sassuolo showing serious interest. However, talks broke down abruptly on Monday evening, and the Italian club withdrew before a deal could be finalised. With the transfer window now closed across Europe’s major leagues, the Marseille man finds his options dwindling.

On Tuesday, a new lifeline emerged as PAOK Thessaloniki entered negotiations, optimistic about reaching a swift agreement. According to Athlos News, talks were advancing well, and the Greek side were eager to finalize the move. However, PAOK insisted on registering Maupay for European competition, requiring the deal to be completed before midnight. Ultimately, the tight deadline proved insurmountable, leaving Maupay’s future uncertain once again.

In Marseille, Maupay's situation is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. The 29-year-old knows full well that Roberto De Zerbi is not counting on him this season following the arrivals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Timothy Weah. His spell in the Premier League was not enough to open up new opportunities for him, nor were his discussions with Italian clubs. Today, the Frenchman finds himself stuck, unless a last-minute opportunity emerges in a market that is still open outside the major leagues.

Although Thessaloniki had long placed their faith in a fortunate outcome, the club is now unwilling to gamble on a major investment without being able to count on Maupay for European competition. Unless Marseille make a significant financial concession, the Greek option appears to be all but off the table. As a result, the striker’s chances of an immediate departure are diminishing.

Additional reporting by Patrick Tchanhoun.