Newcastle are ready to test Everton’s resolve to keep their star England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The north east club have identified the 25-year-old as the perfect man to lead their revolution under new Saudi owners. And they have the cash to back up their pursuit, with new sporting director Dan Ashworth set to hit the ground running with a war chest to bring in new players.
Boss Eddie Howe wants a mobile target man who can score goals, and a fit Calvert-Lewin has proven he can deliver them, becoming an integral part of England’s Euros squad after a stellar 2020-21 season when scoring 25 goals. With Manchester United and Arsenal also expressing an interest in the player, Everton are braced for offers, with the striker understood to be open to a move after a disappointing campaign this time around which was blighted by injury.
So far, the club remains steadfast in the message ‘they are not sellers’ and do not want to sell, but they are aware of Newcastle interest. The reality of their situation though, is that large losses due to Covid and a shocking season where they were almost relegated has hit finances badly, with record losses over the past two seasons running to £250m.
They have also been hit with the serious blow of losing any income from their chief backer Alisher Usmanov, the Russian Oligarch who has been blacklisted by the British government. It leaves them in a precarious financial position, and with new boss Frank Lampard desperate for new signings unless they can source new streams of income swiftly, they may have to sell.
But it would take a massive fee to even get them to the negotiating table, with sources at the club pointing to the fact that Calvert-Lewin is behind only Harry Kane in the England pecking order. Kane of course, almost went to Manchester City for £130m last season, and while there is a realism that the striker’s injury problems make him worth far less than that in the current market, there is still expectation of a huge fee.
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They sold Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United for around £85m, and that could well be the starting point for any negotiations. Newcastle are aware of his injury record and any bid would reflect that, which suggests there may be a stand off in the coming weeks.
Everton are also bracing themselves for approaches for their other striker Richarlison too, with the Brazilian also thought now to be considering a move elsewhere. Lampard is keen to rebuild his squad, and he has said recently that he is pragmatic enough to realise there may have to be departures to fund incomings, with defence and midfield his priority, though if Calvert-Lewin does go, then he would demand a striker too.
