Everton ‘don’t want to sell’ star winger Anthony Gordon amid interest from Chelsea, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The 21-year-old is attracting attention from the west London outfit following an impressive 2021/22 campaign where he played a pivotal part in his boyhood club avoiding relegation.

What is the latest news involving Gordon?

Sky Sports revealed last month that Newcastle United had made ‘initial contact’ with Everton over Gordon after identifying him as a transfer target.

A formal offer was never made by the Magpies, though, but fellow Premier League outfit Chelsea have taken their interest in the England Under-21 international one step further.

It has also been reported by Sky Sports that Everton have turned down a bid in the region of £40 million to £45 million for Gordon from the Blues.

Frank Lampard has already seen one key attacker depart Goodison Park in Richarlison and he is determined to keep hold of one of his other prized possessions this summer.

Gordon still has three years left to run on his current £10,000-per-week contract, but a new deal is believed to be on the table for him, and the Everton hierarchy are hoping he puts pen to paper on fresh terms.

What has Phillips said about Gordon?

It’s been a difficult start to the new season for Everton, who are set to be without key striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin for a few more weeks due to his latest injury setback.

And Phillips has informed GiveMeSport that Lampard now sees Gordon as his ‘talisman’, although the club’s hierarchy will ‘listen to offers of over £50 million’.

He said: “Everton don't want to sell him. Frank Lampard, I'm told, sees Gordon as his talisman and doesn't want to let him go, but every player has a price. And I'm told that Everton will listen to offers of over £50 million.”

Who could Everton replace Gordon with?

Although losing Gordon would be a major setback in Everton’s hopes for 2022/23, the fee received for him would allow Lampard plenty of room to manoeuvre in the transfer market.

90min claim that Chelsea trio Billy Gilmour, Ross Barkley and Michy Batshuayi are all players on Lampard’s radar having worked with them during his time in the Stamford Bridge dugout.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Idrissa Gana Gueye is another player tipped to arrive in the blue half of Merseyside having previously enjoyed a spell at Everton between 2016 and 2019.

It’s debatable whether Gordon’s departure could benefit Everton in the long run, but with their less than convincing track record in the transfer market, the club’s supporters will surely be hoping he sticks around for the foreseeable future.