Sky Sports pundit wants pressure taken off Everton star Anthony Gordon amid form drop-off
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…
Anthony Gordon is “definitely not the finished article” despite the hype around him and the Everton star is still learning, says Kevin Campbell.
The 21-year-old looked set to move to Chelsea before the transfer window closed with prices as high as £60million being thrown around for the possible deal, and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin out injured at the time Gordon was leading the Toffees attack while apparently unaffected by the speculation.
His form has since trailed off somewhat, but Sky Sports pundit Campbell isn’t shocked by the dip since the homegrown wide man is still young, and heaping pressure on him won’t help.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News: “One thing we do know, he’s a young player. He’s a young lad who is learning the game. He’s not the finished article, he’s nowhere near.
“We have to realise that. Yeah potentially he’s got a big future, but he’s still learning the game.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on the young lad. £60million was a lot of money that was maybe put on the table for him.
“So it all depends what internals happen at Everton [what happens].
“I think Anthony Gordon is a good player, he’s learning his trade and I’m not going to put too much pressure on him right now because he’s definitely not the finished article.”
Whether the fact that Gordon’s form has become more uneven in recent weeks, arguably being overshadowed by Demarai Gray and Dwight McNeil at times, prevents the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham making another run at him in January remains to be seen.
He is an important Everton player, but with Calvert-Lewin back the striker has resumed his status as the attacking star of the team.
If there is a massive fee on offer for Gordon then it might be tempting to take it, if it means that the squad can be strengthened further, but if the transfer speculation dies down and he is left to develop at Goodison he can become a crucial Toffees asset.