Manager raises transfer doubt over Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin exit during January window
There will be “doubt in people’s minds” when it comes to looking at signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin from Everton, according to David O’Leary.
The former Leeds and Aston Villa manager told talkSPORT on 6 January, via the Mirror (1.37pm), that the Toffees star’s injury record might put clubs off on the basis they he might not play enough.
Calvert-Lewin’s past two seasons were wrecked by injury but he has been able to feature with far more regularity this term (16 Premier League appearances), and has been tipped as a target for Newcastle this month [TEAMtalk, 22 November].
O’Leary said: “I’ve always liked the lad. I think anybody looking at him wouldn’t be arguing against what you see. The big thing is how many games are you going to get out of him? I think that’s the doubt in people’s minds.
“I’ve always liked him. Strong in the air, great running ability, works the line well. But the thing is the amount of game he plays.”
Warned off
Calvert-Lewin may have only scored three times in the league this term, and is still short of his best after so many fitness set-backs, but he is still a vital part of Sean Dyche’s squad.
His status may not be quite as crucial now that Beto is in the building, with high hopes for fellow summer arrival Youssef Chermiti as well.
But it couldn’t be dressed up as a positive to lose the English number nine midseason if a bid suddenly did come in that the club felt they had to consider.
If he is never to get back to the form that saw him become the de facto stand-in for Harry Kane under Gareth Southgate at one stage then there may come a time where Everton would possibly be better off taking the money and reinvesting.
But for now it would probably come as a relief if a push to sign him was prevented by doubts over his availability, especially with Abdoulaye Doucouré’s injury absence already having halted the previous strong form.
Anyone playing regularly for Dyche this term he will surely want to keep, with only peripheral options such as Arnaut Danjuma easy to move on, so he won’t want any threats to Calvert-Lewin.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have sprung into action to push for a Premier League player who is on the move this month.