Former Everton skipper Kevin Campbell believes that Frank Lampard is making the right call by taking a look at young forward Nathan Broadhead before deciding on his future.
Broadhead, 24, spent the season on loan at Sunderland last season from the Toffees and excelled despite being hampered by injuries. He scored 13 goals in 27 appearances over the season as the Black Cats secured their return to the Championship from League One after a four-year absence and three play off campaigns.
The forward has one year remaining on his contract but Sunderland’s hopes of re-signing him have been boosted by their promotion and Everton’s survival in the Premier League. Broadhead has made just two appearances for the Toffees since joining the club as a 10-year-old and also had a loan spell at Burton Albion during the 2019/20 season.
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Sunderland confirmed their interest in re-signing the Welshman last month. Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman told The Northern Echo : “We will have a conversation with Everton this week. To see where they are at with it and where we are at with it, and see if that’s aligned.
“We have to respect the fact that he is an Everton player. We have seen him as our player for the year, because we had to get the best out of him but now that the season is finished he unfortunately goes back to being an Everton player. He has got all the attributes to go and play at Championship level.”
However, limited progress has been made and the Northern Echo reported last week that the Toffees boss was “reluctant” to let the 24-year-old join Sunderland just yet. The report stated that Lampard was keen to see the striker in pre-season before deciding whether to keep him as part of his first-team squad or loan him out again.
The Blues are unlikely to make a final decision over Broadhead’s future until later in the transfer window, with uncertainty over the futures of fellow forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison complicating matters further.
But Campbell backed Lampard’s stance and doesn’t believe the door is closed on a future at Goodison Park for the former Sunderland loanee.
“No not necessarily because Frank Lampard has only been there half a season,” he told Goodison News. “So he’s well within his rights to have a look at everybody. There’s players who he has never even seen. He’s never seen Nathan Broadhead.
“So I think the smart move is to have a look at him and see what he’s like. If he’s half decent he might use him. If he’s not then he might think, ‘Okay, you know what, let’s do some business’. So I think it’s the smart move.”
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