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Frank Lampard has reiterated his desire to keep Anthony Gordon but admits the future of the Everton forward depends on football and business.
Everton, who are close to signing midfielder Mohamed Qudus from Ajax, rejected a £45m bid from Chelsea on Monday for the 21-year-old, with the academy graduate not for sale. “Where are we going with this contract?” Lampard said it would be naive to guarantee Gordon would still be an Everton player after the transfer deadline.
Gordon was not going anywhere when Tottenham and Newcastle inquired about his availability earlier this summer, and it remains to be seen whether the Everton manager and Chelsea will come back with an improved offer that will test his decision at Goodison Park. But Lampard, who has named Gordon in his squad for Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest, says the boyhood Evertonian’s future will also be influenced by cold business logic.
Asked if he would have the final say on whether to keep or sell the England Under-21 international, Lampard replied: “It would have to be mixed.” When you talk about the level of the player Anthony and the value of the player, if these kind of transfers happen, we know what these types of players want nowadays.
“It’s a difficult situation in terms of football and club business, simple as that. If you can combine those two and make the right decision, I always consider football the most important because that’s what my work is measured by. Anthony Gordon is a great player for us and that’s why my answer is. Gordon has not pushed for a move to Chelsea and Lampard represents the kind of talent and character that Everton are looking to build in the squad. “I did it at Chelsea,” said the coach. I brought many young players into the team and now they want to take one of my young players. Maybe there is something funny about it.
“The reality is that if you play at a high level like Anthony did last season, there will be demand. But Anthony is still young, he hasn’t really found his way in the team now, but this year he will have ambitions to improve some parts of his game, international ambitions, all these things.
“It comes down to Anthony so I think it’s understandable that people would want players like that, that’s the way the world works. But I’m a big young coach myself, so I want to be able to get a better, stronger team and personnel because I’m counting on that. Every coach does. Fortunately, sometimes you’re only as good as your players and Anthony Gordon is a great player.
Dele Alli will be in the squad for the game despite being told that Everton will not stand in his way if he wants to join Besiktas. The 26-year-old has failed to make an impact since his January move from Spurs and Everton are set to pay a £10m transfer fee after 20 games. Alli has made 13 appearances for Lampard’s side so far, but has only started once.
Everton have had mixed fortunes in the transfer market so far but are expected to sign Kudus on loan to secure a permanent deal. The 22-year-old Ghana international can play in the number 10 role. The club have strengthened their defense with James Tarkowski and Conor Cody beating off a number of teams to sign Belgium international Amadou Onana for £33m.
The pursuit of a much-wanted striker continues, with Idrissa’s Ghana Gueye deal stalled and long-term target Morgan Gibbs-White joining Forest. Everton’s last-minute bid to thwart a move to the City Group failed. “We knew him well, he’s a great player, but Nottingham Forest came in and made the deal the end of the story,” Lampard said.
Chelsea have a number of players interested in their former manager, including striker Armando Brojan and midfielder Billy Gilmour. But Lampard insists a move for the Chelsea player is not dependent on Gordon’s move to Stamford Bridge. “It’s a different conversation,” said the Everton manager. “I know the Chelsea players very well. I have one loan left for the United Kingdom and we don’t just want Chelsea.
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