Dominic Calvert-Lewin chances of free agent Everton exit have risen ‘significantly’
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s chances of leaving Everton as a free agent at the end of the season have “risen significantly”, according to The Athletic.
The outlet reported via their website on 3 September that the club are “likely” to renew attempts to keep him with further contract offers, but having remained past the end of the transfer window without a new deal he is now much more likely to leave for nothing.
His contract situation is said to remain a “live problem” and he has shown “no willingness” to extend it, but the transfer interest that was expected by both him and the club did not materialise in the way they anticipated during the transfer window, with a £30million asking price “prohibitive”.
Swap talks with Newcastle for Yakuba Minteh collapsed over personal terms and intermediaries put forward a similar arrangement with Chelsea but Everton did not want David Datro Fofana, and as such Calvert-Lewin is now “probably” in his last year with the club and loanee Armando Broja is auditioning to replace him.
Armando Broja in Everton audition after Chelsea loan exit
If Calvert-Lewin’s reticence to extend his stay at Goodison Park is due to the ongoing uncertainty over the ownership situation [Paul Joyce, 19 July] it is hard to see a major breakthrough being made any time soon.
His first goal of the season against Bournemouth wasn’t enough to secure a first win of the campaign but he’s going to need to score a lot more to make his final season worth sacrificing a transfer fee.
Broja isn’t expected to be available to feature until October thanks to the foot injury which brought down his Ipswich move [The Athletic, 30 August], and while the Toffees secured terms with Chelsea that will mean they don’t pay a thing towards the Albanian until he’s in a match-day squad [Liverpool Echo, 31 August] it, obviously, means he can contribute yet either.
With Youssef Chermiti also injured and Neal Maupay offloaded to Marseille, for all the impact he had at Goodison, it means the misfiring duo of Calvert-Lewin and Beto need to step their game up.
Everton have a £30m option in Broja’s loan deal, which suggests a straight swap between the 22-year-old and the Toffees number nine had both been fit could have satisfied both clubs.
But just as nobody wanted to pay that much for Calvert-Lewin it would be a steep price for the increasingly injury-prone Chelsea man who has scored three times in two years.
So he will also need to rebound when back at full fitness if he is to justify a potential permanent move to fill the gap left by Calvert-Lewin’s exit.
In other Everton news, a senior figure has “no future” at the club, Farhad Moshiri doesn’t think he has the authority.
For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.