Everton legend Kevin Campbell is convinced that Anthony Gordon will not follow Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur as the Premier League giants eye a big-money double deal, speaking to the BBC’s Football Daily podcast.
Where would The Toffees be without Richarlison and Gordon? Well, the Championship, probably.
But while even the most hard-nosed of Everton supporters can probably understand the need to sell Richarlison – the club’s most prized asset and an escape route out of a Financial Fair Play hole of their own making – cashing in on their most talented academy graduate since a baby-faced Wayne Rooney would go down about as well as a Liverpool shirt on the Gwladys Street End.
According to Goal, Spurs want not just Richarlison but Gordon too. Even if a potential double-deal would set the London giants back a staggering £85 million.
Could Anthony Gordon follow Richarlison to Tottenham?
But Campbell is losing no sleep, insisting that Everton are not going to let their homegrown hero walk out the door, regardless of those ongoing FFP concerns.
“It’s not happening! It’s not going to happen,” says the former Goodison Park favourite.
“Richarlison, I understand. He’s done his job at Everton and made sure they stayed up. I thought he was sensational in the second half of the season. He can go. I get that.
“There’s no way Anthony Gordon is going. Anthony Gordon is going nowhere. He’s got a manager who believes in him, who plays him and who’s going to help him develop.”
According to UOL, Richarlison has already undergone medical tests at Spurs and should be unveiled on a five-year deal before the close of today. The Brazil international will become Tottenham’s new record signing to the tune of £60 million.
Campbell sees the positives of Richarlison’s impending departure, however, pointing out that a £60 million windfall can go a long way to plugging the gaps in an Everton squad with more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese.
A sacrificial lamb
“I think Frank Lampard did a fantastic job. It’s very rare you see a manager connect to the Goodison faithful like that. They’ve had some really good managers who didn’t really do it. But Frank Lampard really connected with that fanbase,” Campbell adds.
“But there has to be a refurbishment. The squad is not good enough. There’s players there who one week they’re fit, then they’re out for four weeks. It’s not good enough. They need consistency, they need quality and Frank Lampard, he’s got to use whatever chips he needs to do get this squad up to speed.
“Richarlison is the bargaining chip he needs to get this squad up to speed.”
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