Well-known TV pundit Graeme Souness believes £50million for Anthony Gordon is a huge 'gamble' as Chelsea and Everton remain locked in transfer negotiations.
football.london understands that the Blues have had bids in the region of £40m and £45m rejected outright by Everton as they hold out for closer to £50m. With Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech likely to join both Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku out of the exit doors this summer, the west Londoners are looking for cover on the wings.
Amid links to the likes of Wilfried Zaha and others, Thomas Tuchel has instructed new owner Todd Boehly to focus his attention all in on the young Three Lions international. Frank Lampard remains consistent that he is not in favour of seeing his star winger leave before the September 1 deadline as the Toffees look set for a relegation battle this season but the current financial predicament at Goodison Park means he is powerless in this sense.
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What Chelsea may do to sweeten any deal constructed between the two is they may offer players in a play plus cash deal to entice Lampard, who has shown interest in many fringe players over this period.
It is understood that the likes of Armando Broja, Billy Gilmour, Michy Batshuayi and Ross Barkley are all of interest to the Merseyside-based club.
Whether or not at least two-three of these players can be used as a bargaining tool to help meet the £50m demand in a different way remains to be seen but Souness thinks Chelsea should swerve this risky transfer.
He said on talkSPORT: “It is a hell of a lot of money for a 21-year-old who’s played 50+ games.
"I think the young man is promising, but to spend £40m on someone who might not be a player is a gamble. I think Chelsea's needs are in another area. Chelsea need a goalscorer to put them away for fun."
Whilst Boehly is set to push on with his Gordon plan, it is understood that alongside Man United, Chelsea are set to go on a £500m joint 'gold rush' to finish off the transfer window with all of Wesley Fofana, Frenkie de Jong, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Gordon himself prime targets.
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