Everton winger Anthony Gordon is a player that the club cannot ‘afford to let go at any cost’ this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.
The Toffees have finally started to enjoy some success in the transfer window following a slow start but losing the talented 21-year-old could potentially undo their hard work.
What is the latest news involving Gordon?
So far, Everton have offloaded Richarlison in a £60 million deal to Tottenham Hotspur, using the proceeds of his departure to strengthen several areas around the pitch.
James Tarkowski and Conor Coady have bolstered Frank Lampard’s options at centre-back, Ruben Vinagre will provide cover at left-back, Amadou Onana has strengthened the centre of midfield while Dwight McNeil has replaced Richarlison out wide.
However, Sky Sports revealed last month that Newcastle United had made ‘initial contact’ with Everton over Gordon after identifying him as a transfer target.
The Magpies ‘did not make a bid’ for the England Under-21 international, though, with the approach described as a ‘tentative enquiry’ as they weighed up their options.
Everton are determined to keep hold of Gordon and reportedly made it clear that it was very unlikely that a deal for the academy graduate, who is valued at around £35 million, could progress.
What has Jones said about Everton?
Owner Farhad Moshiri is largely unpopular in the blue half of Merseyside due to Everton’s questionable spending in the transfer market throughout his reign, and Jones doesn’t believe he can afford to let Gordon depart.
In an interview with GiveMeSport, he said: “Gordon isn't really someone that Everton can afford to let go at any cost at the moment.
“They can't afford upsetting their fanbase any more than they already have in recent times, so I personally don't think that transfer will come too much now.”
How big a loss would Gordon be?
Gordon firmly established himself in Everton's starting XI for the first time in his career last season, registering four goals and three assists in 40 appearances across all competitions.
As per WhoScored, the youngster also averaged 1.3 shots, one key pass, 1.1 dribble, and 0.7 crosses per Premier League game throughout 2021/22, placing him in the top five for each metric amongst his teammates.
And Gordon also won plaudits for his incredible work ethic as well as his output in the final third, ranking in the 98th percentile for blocks, 96th for tackles and 95th for pressures amongst his positional peers over the last year, according to FBref.
Losing Gordon would, therefore, be bad for Everton both on and off the pitch, and everyone associated with the club will surely be hoping he sticks around for the foreseeable future.