Sky Sports pundit tips forgotten Everton man Jean-Philippe Gbamin for Frank Lampard chance
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Forgotten Everton midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin could be set for a fresh start at the club under Frank Lampard according to Kevin Campbell.
The Ivorian has had a miserable time with injury since he arrived at Goodison from Mainz in 2019, and his £25million fee so far goes on the list with the worst transfer failings of the Farhad Moshiri era, as the 26-year-old has made just eight Toffees appearances in that time.
But after a loan move to CSKA Moscow in January he has proven his fitness by becoming a stalwart for the Russian club, missing just one game through suspension, and Fabrizio Romano reported last week he will be back on Merseyside at the end of the month, which Sky Sports pundit Campbell thinks could be a new start for him.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News he said: “I don’t think Frank Lampard’s actually seen him so I think he will look at him.
“Have a look at him in pre-season, but obviously Frank Lampard will have an idea in his head what he’s after.
“You just never know. He’s fit. He’s big, powerful, strong.
“Lampard might look at him and say, ‘Right, you could do a job for me’.
“But we’re only going to know that when they meet and he gets training.
“I’m pleased for him that he’s proved his fitness.
“But that decision is down to Frank Lampard, of what he wants and what he sees.”
With plenty of midfielders’ status at the club uncertain, now is as good a chance as any for Gbamin to force his way into the manager’s plans.
If a club comes in and offers decent money for him the Toffees will surely take it to give Lampard something to spend, but since the former Chelsea boss came in after the Ivorian international left he might represent a new option for him.
The major hump he needed to get over was to play regularly and from that perspective his Russian loan has been an obvious success, so if he can get to preseason and show his quality at Finch Farm he might be in line for a second chance.
In other Everton news, the club have made an approach for a potential South American signing but the financial issues have caused a snag.
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