Everton eye Armando Broja replacement as Dominic Calvert-Lewin wanted at Newcastle
Everton moving to sign Armando Broja from Chelsea hinges on Dominic Calvert-Lewin being sold this summer, according to Graeme Bailey.
The journalist reported for TBR Football’s website on 1 June that the Toffees have already expressed an interest in the 22-year-old, who his club are keen to sell as it would be a “huge help” with regards to profit and sustainability at Stamford Bridge.
But a move to Goodison Park would be to replace the exit-linked Calvert-Lewin, who has a year left on his current contract and has been offered an extension but is wanted by Newcastle according to The Telegraph on 23 May.
Kevin Thelwell admitted prior to the end of the season that sales were on the cards this summer, and while star defender Jarrad Branthwaite is being trailed by Manchester United it has been reported by Paul Joyce in The Times (30 May) that Everton would be more open to selling various other players, including Amadou Onana.
Would Chelsea striker be a downgrade for Everton?
Calvert-Lewin has proven how important he can be to the Toffees game when he is fit and on form so it would be a blow to lose him this summer.
Repeated injury issues have robbed Everton of his influence frequently in recent seasons but he rebounded to make 38 total appearances last term, contributing eight goals in all competitions.
However, the financial pressures on the club might make a significant offer to sell impossible to ignore for a player with just a year left on his contract.
Despite encouraging signs from Broja as a teenager at Vitesse and Southampton he has suffered set backs with form and injury himself over the past couple of seasons and has only scored three goals for Chelsea in that time before barely seeing any action on loan at Fulham since January.
Sean Dyche would surely be desperate for a replacement if Calvert-Lewin were to leave but whether the Stamford Bridge man would be the right target for the money he might cost is open to debate, as it would still be potential above all that a buyer is paying for.
The club signed that in Youssef Chermiti last summer at the same as senior forward Beto, while the decision to let Ellis Simms leave for Coventry on a relatively cheap deal may have been a mistake.
Dyche and Thelwell will likely be forced to recruit at various positions with minimal budget even if high-profile sales are made, and it could be a risk to replace a proven, albeit inconsistent, option in Calvert-Lewin with Broja.
In other Everton news, John Textor has caused a “real mystery” with what he has done regarding a takeover at Goodison Park.
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