Dominic Calvert-Lewin ‘still hurts Everton fans’ after latest at Leeds United
Dominic Calvert-Lewin leaving Everton is still a source of pain for the Toffees fanbase, according to Pat Nevin.
After months of speculation over his future Calvert-Lewin left in the summer as his contract expired, eventually signing for Leeds United on a free transfer.
Plagued by injury issues after a sterling pair of campaigns under Carlo Ancelotti the striker had a new deal offered but Calvert-Lewin didn’t sign amid Everton takeover uncertainty, and the offer was eventually taken off of the table.
Calvert-Lewin was linked to Man United, Arsenal and Newcastle at various points in the past few seasons, but concrete options dried up once he was freely available until the promoted Whites brought him in under Daniel Farke.
Calvert-Lewin scores in fourth straight for Leeds at Brentford
The 28-year-old has belatedly thrived for a previously-struggling Leeds that has rebounded in recent weeks, with the turnaround in form sparked by a strong second half as he was introduced off the bench at Man City a fortnight ago.
A goal in that close loss, followed by one each in the win against Chelsea and the draw with Liverpool, then a fourth consecutive on Sunday as Leeds drew 1-1 at Brentford, has Calvert-Lewin in his best form for some time.
Reacting live on BBC 5 Live, via the BBC Sport live-blog, to his headed equaliser at the G-Tech Community Stadium ex-Everton winger Pat Nevin suggested Everton fans wished he was still on Merseyside.
Nevin said: “Dominic Calvert-Lewin – it still hurts Everton fans that he’s not there anymore but give him those sort of crosses and there are not many better in the Premier League to put them away.”
Beto and Thierno Barry struggle but Calvert-Lewin needed move
At his best Calvert-Lewin can take over a game, but the truth is he simply wasn’t doing it on a consistent enough basis for some time before his Toffees exit.
As with everything at Everton in recent years it is impossible to properly assess the forward’s time at the club without acknowledging the complications and strain of the financial turmoil, relegation threats, and takeover confusion that characterised the end of the Farhad Moshiri era.
| Thierno Barry | 16 | 1 |
| Beto | 16 | 1 |
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds) | 14 | 5 |
There was surely huge pressure on Calvert-Lewin’s shoulders during Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche’s reigns, knowing the stakes and with such a threadbare squad, and he was so rarely able to maintain full fitness or any fluency in front of goal.
Just 17 Premier League goals in 92 appearances since Ancelotti’s exit comes with the above caveats but explains why Everton couldn’t justify giving him a big contract to make staying a no-brainer.
Under David Moyes the attacking unit is generally a lot more impressive than in recent years, and were it not for the fact that Beto and Thierno Barry are struggling for goals so badly there would be no reason for Toffees fans to second guess Calvert-Lewin’s exit, but in his current form it is impossible not to wonder how he might thrive in the current line up.
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