Goodison News speaking to Kevin Campbell

Thu 15 July 2021 10:10, UK

We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…

Kevin Campbell has predicted internal problems at Everton over the latest Thierry Small contract saga.

The Athletic reported this week that the left-back sensation has failed to report for pre-season training at Finch Farm.

Campbell believes that Small will be desperate to leave the club, and predicts big problems behind the scenes.

Speaking exclusively to Goodison News, Campbell said, “Yeah it will be a big blow.

“There has got to be something going on internally, why the young man feels that he wants to leave the club.

“Anytime a young player doesn’t turn up for pre-season training, there are problems on the inside.”

Problem.

What is happening at Finch Farm?

Rafa Benitez has been thrown into the deep end with this saga, which started long before he was appointed at Goodison Park.

If Small was as highly-rated as believed, the Toffees will have just paid the money to keep him, but it has to be much deeper than that.

Manchester United and Arsenal are waiting in the wings to take advantage of this, and we can’t allow that to happen.

The Toffees need to make their move and make it impossible for Small to turn this latest deal down, and then push him into the first-team picture.

Lucas Digne is number one, no question about it, and he would be the perfect mentor for the left-back to progress – get it done.

In other Everton news, Rafa Benitez set for a direct meeting with one Toffees star, needs convincing on future – Romano

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