Everton returns wanted for Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin under Sean Dyche as Monday squad news emerges
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…
Sean Dyche should offer Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin a surprise Everton reprieve this summer because their contracts can’t be cancelled, according to Kevin Campbell.
The Portuguese was on loan last season at Lille while the Ivorian was at Trabzonspor, with the Toffees long looking to get them off the wage bill, and their continued presence in the squad termed a “major headache” that the manager has inherited by the Liverpool Echo on 6 July.
But as the squad list was announced for the preseason trip to Switzerland on Monday (10 July) with one of the two on it, former Everton captain Campbell wants see Dyche try to get something out of them on the pitch since getting rid of them has proven so difficult.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News the Sky Sports pundit said: “They haven’t got the money. If you’re going to cancel someone’s contract you’re going to have to pay them up.
“That’s really dead money to you.
“The bottom line is if they are fit why doesn’t Sean Dyche have a look at them?
“Because at the end of the day they’re on the payroll of the club, have a look at them.
“Because obviously they were gone before Sean Dyche came in, you just never know.
“But paying them up? I just think Everton are trying to get as much money as they can in, not spending it out.
“You lose two ways. Get the player of your wage bill, yeah, but you’re paying him, so it’s a lose-lose.”
While Gbamin is recovering from an injury suffered on loan in Turkey last term [Liverpool World, 10 July] Gomes was included in the squad which arrived in Switzerland for the preseason training camp under Dyche.
That suggests that perhaps there is scope for at least the former Barcelona man to contribute at Goodison Park going forward if a long-mooted permanent exit can’t be found.
Gbamin’s agent has made clear he wants to find an exit route this summer, to end his “nightmare” at Everton [BBC Sport, 30 May], so the chances of him adding to his eight appearances in four seasons seem more remote, but his Toffees prospects have looked dim for the past two campaigns and there have been no permanent takers.
Both midfielders had their Goodison careers derailed by injury after big-money moves and the contracts continue to be a millstone, so if Dyche can get any sort of return it would be better than nothing, even if it seems unlikely.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have tabled a loan offer with an obligation to make the move permanent, much to the surprise of the recipient club.