BBC pundit: Everton might have to sell Anthony Gordon to Newcastle for new manager moves
Nothing is off the table at Everton now that Frank Lampard has been sacked and the club may need money to fund a new manager’s moves, says Kevin Campbell.
Following the removal of the 44-year-old on Monday (23 January) Newcastle are pushing hard to sign Anthony Gordon, with Football Transfers reporting on Wednesday (25 January) that a £49.5million package is set to be accepted for the winger to leave.
In light of the ongoing financial pressures around the club BBC pundit Campbell feels that even though the youngster can still recapture his previous strong form the sale might be necessary to allow an incoming coach to do anything.
On Gordon the ex-Everton captain exclusively told Goodison News and said: “His form went up when Lampard was there to start with, but like any young player there’s going to be dips. He’s young. He’s not the finished article. He’s got a lot to learn.
“He came in and did well last season, looked the business, and then this season people work you out a bit, they know what to expect, how to play you and where to show you.
“There’s a maturing that has to happen. You can’t just go on the football pitch with youthful exuberance and all of a sudden be able to tear people apart.
“Teams will scheme for you and show you down blind alleys, block you off and so on. He’s a young man. He’s got talent but hasn’t quite worked it out yet, it’s going to take a bit of time.
“I don’t think it was down to Lampard that he lost form. Teams just know what to expect from him so they defend accordingly.
On the potential move to St James’ Park he added: “It depends how far Everton are up against the FFP regulations. At the end of the day, depending on what money’s on the table, they might need to sell for a new manager to get in some players who he wants.
“I don’t think anything is off the table at the moment. Everything has to be on the table until we know who the new manager is.
“Then he’s going to have to be able to move and shake to bring players in.”
It won’t sting in the same way that a move to Chelsea would have done when he was flying earlier this season, but it is hardly a sign of strength at Goodison Park if Gordon is at Newcastle by the end of the week.
If the club can secure big money and quickly turn it around to sign two or three players who can contribute more than the 21-year-old has recently then it is a necessary evil of the transfer market.
But if a manager doesn’t come in soon and incoming deals aren’t struck then what good does it do to let another attacking star leave, even if he wasn’t in great form, just like Richarlison?
Everton are in flux at every level right now and it has already been painful enough for the fans, so some of the changes really need to start being positive ones very soon.