talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor fears for Everton amid potential Anthony Gordon exit
Gabby Agbonlahor believes Everton will be in trouble if Anthony Gordon is sold and the money isn’t immediately reinvested in the squad.
The youngster is a £60million target for Chelsea in the final days of the transfer window, having apparently indicated he would be in favour of the move, and scored the Toffees’ only goal in the 1-1 draw at Brentford on Saturday (27 August).
Agbonlahor believes that game showed how crucial the 21-year-old winger is to Frank Lampard’s chances this season and Everton have to keep him or immediately sign a top level replacement.
Speaking live on talkSPORT after the game on Saturday, in a clip posted on Twitter, he said: “Can’t let him go. Can’t.”
Co-host Jamie O’Hara asked: “£60million though?”
Agbonlahor continued: “Earlier on in the week I thought yes, but I looked at them today. I looked at Everton and they rely on him. He’s the one with the energy.
“Look at his goal today. Great run, great finish. Who else is going to step up in that team? Dwight McNeil is an okay player, Demarai Gray’s decent. But unless that £60million is going to given straight to Lampard and say, ‘Go and buy a top class striker’, that’s different.
“If they’re not even going to give him the money to invest you can’t sell him. If they sell Gordon and then don’t reinvest that money in a top class winger/striker, they’re in trouble mate. Because he’s what carries that attack.”
Talisman
Perhaps Dominic Calvert-Lewin can eventually get back to full fitness and regain his mantel as the primary attacking force at the club.
But in his absence and with Richarlison now long-gone, Gordon is the leading light of the Toffees offensive capabilities.
His influence had been tempered in the early weeks of the season by being played in the unfamiliar false-nine role, but with Salomon Rondon dropped back to the bench in west London the homegrown talent showed his quality in that position with the goal and relentless harrying.
The strike excellently taken, and with Gray’s finishing profligate despite his goalscoring display against Nottingham Forest, and McNeil struggling to get up to speed yet, if this side has Gordon taken out it will look distinctly more toothless.
Neal Maupay’s arrival will help temper that slightly, but he will be far more effective alongside the in-demand wide man.
Lampard suggested he expects Gordon to remain his player after the game on Saturday, but Chelsea’s millions have a way of changing things, as Leicester have found out with Wesley Fofana.
There will be next to no time to adequately spend that money though if a deal does go through now, and while Agbonlahor’s assessment is dramatic it might not be a million miles from the truth, no matter how good value the deal is on paper.