Everton transfer priority Dominic Calvert-Lewin after Manchester United and West Ham interest
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s situation is now the priority for Everton before the close of the transfer window, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The outlet reported on their website on 14 August that the exit-linked striker’s future needs to be resolved above all after he entered the final year of his contract.
He remains the club’s “most important” forward but has not accepted the offer of an extension and has been subject to transfer interest from within the Premier League.
A move to Newcastle fell through while both Manchester United and West Ham have considered him, but with the deadline approaching it is considered “problematic” for him to leave without time to secure a replacement even if a “valuable” fee is offered towards the club’s financial situation.
Everton eye Chelsea and Arsenal replacements
Sean Dyche is bound to be on edge right up until the deadline if the possibility that Calvert-Lewin could depart remains active.
Everton are said to be doing their “due diligence” on replacements but are stuck being unable to move for one unless the England international does go, with Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah said to be rising up the shortlist of options [TEAMtalk, 13 August].
Armando Broja from Chelsea has been linked throughout the summer and is said to be “keen” to join the Toffees if the opportunity is handed to him [i News, 12 August], but talks have been opened with Stuttgart over a loan which could see him off the table by the time Everton could move for him [Sky Sports Germany, 11 August].
Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko has been offered as his Marseille move collapses [TEAMtalk, 13 August] but he is another who is unlikely to be available for long before another destination is secured.
A surprise link to a big-money deal to sign Barcelona’s Vitor Roque has emerged in recent days but is said to be wide of the mark [Alan Myers, 13 August].
Dyche would likely prefer to ignore all the complications and just see Calvert-Lewin sign a new deal, but after the Dan Friedkin takeover collapsed it appears hopes of that have been lost [Paul Joyce, 19 July].
Offers have not come in for the number nine since his talks with Newcastle, and if the situation stays that way it would be a positive for the manager in the short-term.
But if the club’s top striker ends up leaving for nothing next summer it is unlikely to be beneficial in the long run.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have held talks with Manchester City over Kalvin Phillips but are now eyeing a former teammate of a new signing as well.
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