DCL pens new Everton contract
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has become the latest young Everton player to commit long-term to the club as he signs a new deal which will keep him at Goodison Park until 2025.
This news obviously comes just a few days after Calvert-Lewin’s team-mate Mason Holgate has also signed on the dotted line underlining his commitment to Everton too.
It’s more good news for the Blues as the side gears up for the final quarter of the season. As with Holgate, Calvert-Lewin has made real and sustained progress this season and is now playing with great confidence and scoring goals with increasing regularity.
This has been especially clear since Carlo Ancelotti took over as manager although there were intermittent signs under both Marco Silva and particularly Duncan Ferguson, of this improvement.
However under the Italian that improvement has been exponential. Calvert-Lewin has scored a succession of goals and looks a constant threat in every game. In fact he would have had another brace last Sunday but for the predictable intervention of our favourite piece of technology; VAR.
I’ve felt for a long time that Calvert-Lewin has always had the pace, strength, ability in the air and work rate to be an effective centre-forward. But he seemed to lack at times conviction in his own talent and the necessary self-confidence in front of goal.
Since first Ferguson and then Ancelotti have taken over and persisted with a solid 4-4-2 formation, Calvert-Lewin has thrived alongside another talented forward making big strides in this campaign; Richarlison.
The two 22-year-old’s have struck up a fruitful partnership and although at first it seemed as though the Brazilian might become the more prolific, it’s actually Englishman Calvert-Lewin who has become Everton’s chief goal threat.
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With the support and work-rate of Richarlison as his foil, Calvert-Lewin has been able to focus much more on finding space in and around the penalty box and getting on the end of the Blues creative play to score goals. He’s developed a real finishers instinct and the confidence to consistently find the back of the net.
Just as with Holgate, that’s brought him to the attention of the England boss Gareth Southgate. And considering the injury problems that Southgate is currently facing upfront, good performances and goals in the upcoming friendlies (assuming he’s picked of course!) could propel him into the squad for the Euros this summer.
Now with a new contract and the vocal support of his manager, Calvert-Lewin should be able to kick on from here and perhaps become one of the best strikers in the Premier League. If he does then Everton will have saved themselves a hefty sum in potential transfer spending.