Frank Lampard has said the deadline for Everton to even consider selling Anthony Gordon to Chelsea has now passed. The Blues saw a £45million offer for the 21-year-old turned down recently and their interest in the attacker is still there.
Gordon has been in fine form for Everton at the start of the new season with the Liverpool-born forward netting a goal for the second game on the bounce as the Toffees drew 1-1 with Leeds United on Tuesday evening. Lampard was inevitably asked about interest in Gordon after the match.
When asked if Everton would considering offloading Gordon, the former Chelsea boss replied: "No. He's too important a player and I think he showed his worth in the last two games.
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"And with two days now to go [until the window closes], what good would it do us to do anything with Anthony? On a bigger picture than that, he is our player who we've developed and there's an affiliation with him and the fans and vice-versa.
"Clearly, the interest has been there because he is a top player. And that is why we're so keen to keep him."
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Gordon must stay at Goodison Park for at least another season to help continue his development. Murphy said to talkSPORT: "I think, for the lad, he will benefit more from playing another year at Everton, definitely.
"Because he's going to play every game, he is already super confident, the fans love him, he is comfortable, he doesn't have to prove himself again. He has got that already.
"He's going to gain so much experience by playing 90 minutes every week, rather than 12 minutes here and 30 minutes here. He is going to learn more."
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