Anthony Gordon Everton contract latest as Frank…

Anthony Gordon Everton contract latest as Frank Lampard addresses wage demand claims

Anthony Gordon is said to be concentrating on playing well for Everton and not contract talks as he and Frank Lampard attempt to chart his continued development.

Talks are ongoing between the club and representatives of the 21-year-old, who was the subject of sustained interest from Chelsea in the closing weeks of the transfer window. The negotiations became the subject of speculation over the weekend, with claims progress was being hampered by Gordon's wage demands.

That has been disputed by those close to the player, who is said to be "focused on playing well for Everton". A source with knowledge of the talks dismissed claims of any problems and told the ECHO discussions had been positive to date. Lampard also put to bed suggestions of any problem between Everton and the academy graduate, insisting any "noise" surrounding the player is not of concern to him. He added he maintains a close relationship with the England Under-21 international and the pair were both focused on how the youngster can continue to develop.

Gordon, who will return to the Blues squad for the trip to Newcastle United after his suspension for the Tottenham Hotspur game, has more than two years left on his Everton contract. While talks are ongoing over a new one, both parties are said to be relaxed over the progress so far. Asked for his reaction to the claims those negotiations had hit a stumbling block, Lampard said: “[I have] no concerns about the noise around the contract, and I have spoken to him about it. I think that’s private, and I think unfortunately the headline is the numbers people talk about and obviously that should stay private - generally I’m all for players getting what they deserve in their contracts. That is a separate story... My main concern as a manager is getting Anthony playing at his best. He is our player, he will remain that for a long time, and I think we showed that with our intention in the summer. And the conversation about his contract hopefully gets concluded, in a positive way, sooner rather than later."

Lampard repeatedly spoke positively of Gordon as the player was pursued by Chelsea in the summer - praising his commitment to the club and his performances amid the interest, which extended to a £45m bid from the London outfit. That was rejected by Everton and Lampard was adamant Gordon's development could be continued on Merseyside. His faith was repaid as Gordon struck important goals at Brentford and Leeds United as the speculation over his future reached its peak. Gordon, handed the number 10 shirt over the summer, has spoken of his desire to take on more responsibility in the first team and provide more goals and assists.

Lampard accepted he "shouldn’t just assume that what happened at the back end of the window doesn’t affect him" but added he had retained a strong bond with Gordon, explaining: “You try and have a close relationship, which I do have with him. We laugh and joke a lot, he’s a good lad a funny lad, and I can be to the point with him as well, he takes that as well so I’m not really focusing on that either."

On the contract situation, he added: "He’s got two and a half and a bit more left… so I remind him of that sometimes. It’s nice to be in that situation sometimes, because you know in the modern day contracts look different and the shift is different. And every one is individual, with Anthony he had a big breakthrough last year and my only concern with Anthony is, what is the next stage of your development … What he did last year was really exciting for everyone involved, but I want him to be better and so does he. That is what we have to focus on at the minute. How we get more out of himself. I know he is up for that so it is about actioning it now and we are working on that now."

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