Everton boss Frank Lampard is hopeful that the club will keep hold of 21-year-old attacking midfielder Anthony Gordon amid interest from Chelsea.
The Englishman scored his first goal of the season in Everton’s 1-1 draw against Brentford – a game in which he played amid the backdrop of Chelsea’s interest in signing him for a fee reportedly in the region of 50-60 million.
Lampard – a former Chelsea player and manager – remains defiant, however, that the club’s star youngster is not for sale and that he would want him to stay at Goodison Park for the season.
“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,”
Lampard was quoted as saying by The Guardian .
“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.”
Despite Everton’s stance, Chelsea are not backing away from the deal – say reports. According to the latest set of rumors, the Blues are prepared to offer the Toffees 25 million pounds up-front for the young attacker along with two of their own – Armando Broja and Conor Gallagher – bringing the total valuation of the deal close to 85 million.
Broja has played a bit-part role for Chelsea so far, coming off the bench in two of their games. Gallagher, meanwhile, has been more involved; the Englishman started in the 3-0 loss against Leeds United and then again a week later in a 2-1 win over Leicester City, a result he wasn’t a part of after the half-hour mark because of two bookings in quick succession.
