Chelsea

Chelsea

Premier League • England

Anthony Gordon: £40m Chelsea bid rejected, but Everton breaking point and striker who could unlock transfer emerge

Everton winger Anthony Gordon

Everton have rejected a £40m bid to sign Anthony Gordon from Chelsea, though two keys to potentially unlocking the transfer have been detailed.

The Toffees winger has already been the subject of links with a move away this summer. Indeed, Tottenham reportedly lodged a combined £100m bid in July to sign both Richarlison and Gordon in a double deal.

Everton stood firm over their academy graduate, though Richarlison did move to north London.

Everton’s stance of Gordon not being for sale appeared to end Spurs’ interest. However, recent reports have put Newcastle in the mix.

According to the Times, the Magpies are no longer alone.

They report Chelsea have tabled a bid worth £40m to sign the 21-year-old winger. The offer has been rejected. Sky Sports back up that claim, stating they’ve been told a £40m bid had been lodged.

The Blues are pushing to sign players for both the present and their future this summer.

The likes of Kalidou Koulibalty and Raheem Sterling are clearly players who will make an immediate impact. However, Chelsea also have one eye on the future as evidenced by their clever addition of Aston Villa sensation, Carney Chukwuemeka.

Gordon is the newest young talent they want to help safeguard their future and the Times detail two factors that could twist Everton’s arm.

Two keys to unlocking Gordon transfer

Firstly, it’s noted Everton’s valuation of Anthony Gordon is around the £50m mark. Chelsea are expected to come back in with an improved offer and if they come close to or even match the £50m valuation, Everton could cave.

Secondly, Everton’s interest in Blues striker Armando Broja is reportedly growing.

The 20-year-old earned valuable top flight experience while on loan at Southampton last season. However, he does not appear to have done enough to break into Thomas Tuchel’s first eleven.

The Times stress Broja is free to leave Stamford Bridge on loan this summer and on paper he looks tailor-made for Goodison Park.

Everton haven’t yet replaced Richarlison, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is once again injured. That’s led to Lampard fielding Gordon out of position up top in each of Everton’s first two matches, both of which ended in defeat.

Lampard is in desperate need of a reliable centre-forward and Broja showed he can make the grade in the Premier League while on the south coast last term.

The inference in the report is Broja may yet have a part to play in helping Chelsea to snare Gordon.

Too soon for Anthony Gordon?

Gordon has already established himself as an undroppable part of Lampard’s forward line. However, breaking into the Chelsea eleven will prove far more difficult.

Raheem Sterling is a lock on the left, while Kai Havertz will remain the false nine until a new striker is signed – if indeed one is.

Mason Mount is No 1 on the right, while Christian Pulisic provides pace and impetus off the bench. As such, a move to Stamford Bridge would likely result in Gordon sitting on the bench most weeks.

Of course, a club like Chelsea are expected to challenge on four fronts every season. Gordon would not lack for opportunities over a full season, but it’s highly doubtful he’d start more than he’s benched.

In contrast, he will start every Everton match he is available for. At his age, nothing is more important than minutes on the pitch.