Everton manager Sean Dyche should be thinking about off-loading forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer, should the Toffees receive a reasonable offer for the 26-year-old.
Signed in 2016 from Sheffield United for just £1.5m, the Blues should make a comfortable profit provided a decent offer comes in, and Sean Dyche can reinvest in an area where Everton desperately need to strengthen.
The England international is without doubt one of Everton’s better players, and while I wouldn’t usually advocate the club cashing in on such a talent, his limited availability over the past couple of seasons has prevented him from fulfilling his potential.
A return of 21 goals in 39 games in all competitions during the 2020/21 season, the England forward won Everton’s Player of the Year award and was the first Everton player to score two hat-tricks in one month since the great Dixie Dean in 1931.
Of course, Everton were playing some exciting football under Carlo Ancelotti, with Calvert-Lewin feeding off the likes of James Rodriguez, Lucas Digne and Richarlison, all of whom have since departed Goodison Park.
Since then, Everton have had three permanent managers and are currently in their second successive scrap for Premier League survival, with DCL’s ailments occurring with increasing regularity.
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The 2021/22 season saw the 26-year-old struggle for fitness, though he still managed a return of five goals in 17 Premier League games, and Everton fans hoped that his injuries that season were just a blip.
Without doubt, the club should have strengthened in attack last summer, so the Blues did not have to rely so heavily on the availability of Calvert-Lewin, but other than the £15m signing of Neal Maupay, Everton’s incomings upfront were slim.
DCL has all of the attributes to become a top Premier League forward, but if he continues to struggle for fitness and with just 11 Premier League outings for the Blues this season, contributing one goal and no assists, Everton cannot continue to rely on his availability.