Stevie Nicol has questioned Everton and Farhad Moshiri’s call to allow ‘one of their best players’, Anthony Gordon, to secure an imminent transfer to Newcastle United before Tuesday’s deadline day, as he told ESPN.
The Liverpool legend thinks Everton, in their relegation battle, should be keeping hold of Gordon, whilst he didn’t agree with the 21-year-old’s behaviour that saw him miss three straight days of training.
Sean Dyche’s appointment is yet to be confirmed, by the time he does officially start as Everton boss, it’s more than likely Gordon won’t be on Merseyside because he is closing in on a £45 million transfer to St James’ Park.
Whilst the versatile attacker’s form has gone down the drain this season, alongside his club’s continual slide, his relationship with his own fans has also turned sour.
It has to be questioned how much of a role that has played in the winger’s eagerness to head for the Goodison Park exit door.
But regardless of what has happened with the England U21 international, Nicol feels Everton simply can’t sell him this month.
“What message are you sending to the Everton fans,” asked Nicol. “You are fighting for your life and you need everything that’s good at your club, but you are going to sell one (of your best players).
“I don’t agree with that behaviour (on Gordon not turning up for training). But, at the same time, what message does it send to the fans that you are getting rid of potentially your best player? At a time (when you need it).
“Anthony Gordon was a scouser who was brought up at the club. You aren’t telling me somebody can’t get their arm around him, have a talk to him and turn his head a little bit.
“If he stepped onto the field when the window has closed and scores a goal and they win 1-0, then there isn’t going to be one Evertonian who will try to slap him on the back of the head.”
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE…
Sean Dyche is the type of man-manager that could turn such a situation around, but it seems as though, by the time he sets foot on the training field, then Gordon will be well gone.
It’s never too late to turn such a situation around, and at the end of the day, winning games quickly changes the mood.
But Everton are going to be losing Gordon, or perhaps from the case of fans, selling him for an inflated price, then using that money to boost their squad.
All in all, just like 12 months ago, expect those on the blue half of Merseyside to, once again, be very busy during the final stages of the transfer window under yet another new manager.
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