Everton scored another big win in the Premier League on Saturday and things are looking up at the club under David Moyes.
Everton beat Brighton 1-0 at the Amex Stadium, and the result initially took the Toffees seven points clear of the relegation zone.
But Leicester City beating Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday saw the gap reduce to six points.
It was a great, resilient performance from Everton on the south coast.
Moyes’ side went ahead through an Iliman Ndiaye penalty, and then turned in a real gritty display to keep Brighton at bay.
But the win came at a cost, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin picking up an injury early on in the game.
There’s been a lot of talk about Calvert-Lewin recently, because the player is out of contract this summer. But for Tony Cascarino, Moyes has simply got to do one thing if the number nine gets a new deal.
Tony Cascarino urges David Moyes to sign younger striker to challenge Calvert-Lewin
Writing in a column for The Times, former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has offered some thoughts about Calvert-Lewin and his immediate future.
Calvert-Lewin reportedly won’t be rushed over signing a new Everton contract.
But he seems to be happy about the arrival of Moyes, with Calvert-Lewin recently singing his praises.
It may well be that he eventually extends, and if that does come to pass, then Cascarino insists Moyes must bring in some younger competition for the number nine.
He said: “But if Moyes is going to give Calvert-Lewin a new deal he must find a good understudy, or sign a younger, fitter striker to really challenge the star he already has.
“If not, then I wonder if a move away could be good for Calvert-Lewin, maybe go to a club where he’ll be the plan B initially, have to fight his way in, and can work on his fitness. Where the expectations aren’t so high and the narrative not so predictable.”
On the transfer front, it’s thought Calvert-Lewin is of interest to Newcastle United, with West Ham United and Atalanta having also been touted as potential next destinations.
Calvert-Lewin has been ‘comfortable’ at Everton
It will be very intriguing to see what happens with Calvert-Lewin in 2025, as currently he stands to leave the club as a free agent.
It hasn’t been a particularly fruitful past couple of years for the striker at Goodison Park though.
Just before Christmas, former Toffees striker Jermaine Beckford suggested Calvert-Lewin had grown too ‘comfortable’ at Everton, and had suffered as a result of having no real competition at the club.
Beto was brought in but has not performed, and Calvert-Lewin has arguably been able to turn in sub-par performances without too many consequences.
Cascarino is right – if he is to sign a new deal, then Moyes, The Friedkin Group and Kevin Thelwell must ensure the arrival of a young, hungry striker to provide appropriate competition.
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