Everton set asking price for Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Chelsea and Arsenal interest emerges

Add as preferred source on Google

Everton need to sort their Dominic Calvert-Lewin conundrum out as a matter of priority, arguably even before they progress with any more incomings.

Naturally, with Orel Mangala completing his Everton medical, his arrival is already a foregone conclusion, but the money they serve to lose next summer from the Englishman’s potential pre-contract exit would be criminal.

At one point rated as one of the country’s best strikers, his regression has been sad to see, with physical ailments proving too much for him to contend with.

As such, his form has fallen off a cliff, and his stock has plummeted.

Four years ago, many teams would have flocked at the chance to sign the forward, and now, there is but a handful. However, those teams touted are still of very high quality.

Paul Joyce provides Everton transfer update

One such example is Chelsea, who after the failure to sign Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen, could turn their attention to Merseyside to snag a striker from Everton.

Arsenal are also credited with interest in Calvert-Lewin, although a move to the Emirates seems far less likely.

Regardless of where he goes, journalist Paul Joyce has sought to provide an update on how much he will cost, writing for The Times.

He claimed: ‘There has been interest in Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin from Chelsea, who is valued at around £25million despite entering the final year of his contract.

‘A proposal was discussed for Everton to take Stamford Bridge striker David Datro Fofana, who spent time on loan at Burnley last season.’

Would David Datro Fofana replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin?

Whilst David Datro Fofana would provide a replacement for the tall, fast, physical presence of Calvert-Lewin, it’s unlikely that he would be able to utilise all of those assets in such a way that made the 27-year-old so effective.

After all, he is inarguably one of Europe’s most effective target men, remarkable in the air and so good at holding the play up.

Naturally, his finishing prowess has let him down for years now, but Fofana could hardly do much worse.

In fact, during his loan spell with Burnley last season, he maintained a 21% goal-conversion rate in the Premier League.

That’s a better figure than Calvert-Lewin has ever posted across his eight campaigns in the English top flight.

At 21 years old too, the room for growth is huge.

This might actually be an intelligent move from Sean Dyche, that allows his side to move away from a reliance on the current striker’s hold-up play, and instead trust in a more proven finisher.