Everton must hold fire on behind-scenes Dominic Calver-Lewin decision as Goodison Park news emerges
Everton could yet be making a critical mistake behind the scenes at Goodison Park on a potential new contract for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
UK newspaper outlet Daily Mail reported on 22 December (page 69) that the Toffees are set to begin talks with the Englishman over a fresh deal at the club after a change of agents.
Calvert-Lewin, who changed agencies to Wasserman Media Group, has 18 months left on his current contract and Everton would like to tie him down to a long-term deal at Goodison Park.
Key Sports Management previously represented the 29-year-old until Wasserman bought them three years ago, an agency that has worked with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher.
The England international’s return to fitness recently has been a huge bonus for Everton as his presence, aerial dominance and focal point have certainly proven a crucial factor in the Toffees’ resurgence.
And while a new contract for such a key star who has 18 months left on his deal may seem like a plausible route, it’s important Everton hold fire on the decision given Calvert-Lewin’s current form.
In 13 Premier League games this season, the Englishman has just three goals to his name and just one goal in his last 10 games suggesting a player who certainly isn’t deserving of a new deal no matter his status in the squad.
It’s not just Calvert-Lewin’s current record which is a cause for concern but his drop in performance levels and influence in Dyche’s team at Goodison Park.
In his last three games in all competitions, Calvert-Lewin has registered just two shots on target [SofaScore] which smacks of a striker in dreadful form and one lacking serious confidence.
His last display for the Toffees against Fulham in their EFL Cup quarter-final defeat on Tuesday (19 December), the current worries over his form and performance were further compounded as the former Sheffield United man was nowhere to be seen.
The 26-year-old picked up the worst score of any player to start the game at 6.4/10, winning just one of his seven aerial duels in a dreadful 14 per cent success rate and won just two of his ground duels whilst also losing 100 per cent of his three dribble attempts before he was deservedly hooked off for Beto.
The Portuguese forward showed more in half an hour than Calvert-Lewin did in an hour, grabbing the all-important equaliser.
While Everton have enjoyed a tremendous renaissance in recent weeks, Calvert-Lewin has somewhat stagnated and that can certainly be put down to him just returning from a long injury lay-off but that should be a strong message enough for the Toffees hierarchy to hold off on making any rash decisions.
Everton face the threat of losing several other key stars such as Amadou Onana (Mundo Deportivo, 20 December) and Jarrad Branthwaite (Sky Sports, 7 December) in the near future and those arguably more pivotal than Calvert-Lewin.
It’s imperative Everton wait until the summer at least before making a decision on the striker’s contract because, given the current trajectory of his career, it could well be a costly mistake.
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