Dominic Calvert-Lewin to leave Everton after contract snub amid Manchester United interest
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is now expected to leave Everton this summer after rejecting a new contract, according to TEAMtalk.
The outlet reported via their website on 9 July that the striker, who has entered the final 12 months of his current deal at Goodison Park, has turned down the extension offer put forward by the club.
Calvert-Lewin has also emerged as a target for Manchester United, in addition to Jarrad Branthwaite, who could now have the opportunity to sign the 27-year-old.
Paul Joyce reported in The Times earlier on 9 July that while Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell want to keep the star centre-back after a pair of rejected bids there is an acceptance that Calvert-Lewin’s future is “more complicated” thanks to his contract status, with the club “loath” to lose him for free in a year.
Ben Godfrey was sold to Atalanta last month in similar circumstances having also turned down offers of an extension at Goodison Park [HITC, 11 June].
Manchester United want Everton pair Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jarrad Branthwaite
Dyche and Thelwell would clearly rather not lose either of the big-name players, and the club have been steadfast in turning away a second bid from Old Trafford for Branthwaite this week.
But the 22-year-old has multiple seasons left on the new deal he signed last term so they can be secure in holding out for a massive fee.
They have no such security with Calvert-Lewin, and he appears to have now made the decision for them in turning down an extension, so may be forced to take less than they feel he is worth.
He was previously offered to Newcastle before talks over an exit broke down [Times, 24 June], clearly showing the Toffees want some return for him while it is still possible, so his exit would be no surprise.
Calvert-Lewin leaving could open the door for the Toffees to complete a deal for Chelsea’s Armando Broja, with one reported to be required for the other to be possible [TBR Football, 1 June] and extensive talks believed to have been held over the Albanian [Ben Jacobs, 9 June].
Either way it would be a blow to lose the Goodison star who, when fit, has the ability to completely change the way the team players.
His injury issues have ruined most of the past three years but he is still an 11-cap England international with 54 Premier League goals to his name.
In other Everton news, work is now under way to bring in three more new signings.
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