Latest Frank Lampard comments surely spell the end of the road at Everton for Salomon Rondon
Everton need goals in the second half of the season, but it now seems almost certain that it won’t be Salomon Rondon to supply them.
The Toffees adopted a defensive approach in their mid-season friendly with Celtic overnight on Saturday (20 November), earning a 0-0 draw with the Scottish champions before winning on penalties.
After the game Lampard was asked about his approach and admitted to the Liverpool ECHO that he was keen to add attacking options to his squad during the January transfer window once the season restarts after the World Cup.
But his comments, while stating the obvious for many, also shone a light on his thoughts of Venezuelan striker Rondon, who has become somewhat of a forgotten man on Merseyside.
“We know that we need to improve in front of goal in terms of our clinical nature and when we create we have to score more and then we can create more,” he said.
“Some of that is improving and some of that will be the help we get in January.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is suffering with injuries again and his future at the club looks bleak beyond the end of this season, while Neal Maupay has struggled in front of goal since joining from Brighton in the summer.
Demarai Gray has had flashes of brilliance, Dwight McNeil has been okay and Anthony Gordon has really struggled with more yellow cards than goal involvements.
However despite those issues Lampard has only used Rondon sparingly this season, handing him just 194 minutes across eight appearances in the Premier League and Carabao Cup.
With more attacking reinforcements set to arrive in January if Lampard has his way with the squad, it will almost certainly bring an end to Rondon’s career with Everton.
It’s been a largely forgettable time, having come in under Rafa Benitez and only netting three times in 31 games across all competitions.
Blues fans will be delighted to see the back of him, and if the club are able to offload him in January rather than holding on until his contract expires in the summer then we could even see some cash come in to boost more incomings.