Tony Cascarino has described Anthony Gordon as a "very special talent" and believes Chelsea willingness to pay £60million for the Everton man is fair. The Blues remain in negotiations with the Toffees over the 21-year-old attacker.
football.london understands Chelsea are prepared to pay as much as £60m for Gordon, who is determined to leave Goodison Park before Thursday's deadline. Everton boss Frank Lampard has made it very clear he does not want the Liverpool-born attacker to leave the club.
Speaking after Gordon scored in Everton's 1-1 draw with Brentford on Saturday afternoon, Lampard said: "He's a level of player at 21 years of age, with what he showed last year, everyone is talking about and clubs are interested in him, and have had a nibble at him.
READ MORE: Anthony Taylor mocked during Chelsea's Premier League win over Leicester City with chant
"But he's our player so I don't come away from today thinking: 'Oh dear, that's made someone keen to pay more millions for him'. I come away thinking: 'He's an Everton player and I want him to stay. Simple."
Chelsea, though, will not be put off by Lampard's move and are expected to make another move for Gordon before the transfer deadline. Cascarino, speaking on talkSPORT, believes Gordon would be a really smart piece of business from his former club.
"I really believe sometimes clubs make decisions on players or managers and the recruitment team looks at a player and go: 'Look how well he played at Anfield last year'," Cascarino said. "His pace is quite clear, he can run direct, he's got a great turn of foot and he can go past people.
"He's fearless, tenacious, there's a lot of great things in his game. I think it's a bit unfair everyone saying: 'He's not worth this'. I think Chelsea have seen a very special talent and have decided to go after him.
"Evertonians won't like it because they recognise he's a really good player and they want to keep one of their own. Fan bases don't like losing their own – they just don't. Sometimes they can sacrifice someone coming in and then losing him, but when they're one of your own, Evertonians will take that a bit differently. He's a terrific footballer.
"The market now, the boy [Alexander Isak] who's joined Newcastle for £60m. He looks a really good talent, but you would never have got £60m two years ago. He would have been worth £20m.
"People will go: 'How are you spending £60m on a potential player?'. Well, potential is the highest value. Being proven, in some ways, isn't as good as potential now. I think Anthony Gordon has already proven himself as a really, really top talent."
READ NEXT:
Why Marc Cucurella got angry after Conor Gallagher red card as Chelsea find Thomas Tuchel deputy
How Kai Havertz annoyed Daniel Amartey as Chelsea given £20m transfer question in Leicester City win
'Wesley Fofana feelings' – National media react to Chelsea's Premier League win vs Leicester City
Gary Lineker offers blunt Conor Gallagher red card verdict after Chelsea vs Leicester City
Thomas Tuchel names the two Chelsea errors leading to Conor Gallagher's red card vs Leicester
