Paris Saint-Germain defender Thomas Meunier has revealed he came close to joining Everton this summer but insists he wants to remain with the French club.
The Belgium international, who joined the French champions in 2016, recently entered the final year of his current deal at the Parc des Princes.
He was heavily linked with a move away from the club during the recent transfer window after limited opportunities in Thomas Tuchel’s side, but a move failed to materialise.
And the 28-year-old, who made just 22 Ligue 1 appearances last season, has claimed he had the chance to move to Everton but was put off by the club’s lack of European football.
In an interview with Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws (via Sportwitness ), Meunier said: “There was interest and there have been conversations, but it never came to a point where I had to decide: Do I sign or not?
(Image: BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images)
“Always one of the parties did not agree.”
Asked if the situation was frustrating, Meunier explained: “No, because I have always made it clear that my ambition was to stay with PSG. I did not want to leave to leave.
“ Because playing at PSG is special. You are part of a team that can win a European competition, that is not something many players can say.
“I could have signed with Everton – a good club. I would have played a lot, that’s for sure, and had a lot of fun too.
(Image: CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/EPA-EFE/REX)
“But Everton doesn’t play in European competition.”
Despite a difficult start to the new season, Everton secured their first Premier League league win since the start of September against West Ham on Saturday to ease pressure on manager Marco Silva.
Bernard put the Toffees ahead in the first half at Goodison Park before Gylfi Sigurdsson secured all three points in the final moments of the match to put them 13th in table.
