Gordon must improve again next season for Everton
![PRISTINA, KOSOVO - JUNE 10: Anthony Gordon of England controls the ball during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier between Kosovo U21 and England MU21 at Stadium Fadil Vokrri on June 10, 2022 in Pristina, Kosovo.(Photo by Armando Babani/Getty Images) PRISTINA, KOSOVO - JUNE 10: Anthony Gordon of England controls the ball during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier between Kosovo U21 and England MU21 at Stadium Fadil Vokrri on June 10, 2022 in Pristina, Kosovo.(Photo by Armando Babani/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/29c2198fcb26102456c1e45a6e60a9b1601a9b531b1a0df50aa016f6bdf81bd1.jpg)
After his breakthrough campaign for Everton last season young forward Anthony Gordon needs to continue his development in the new campaign.
Gordon made real progress in the season just gone and he was one of the very few bright spots for Everton in what was a truly dreadful 2021-22 campaign.
Now, as many of us had expected it looks increasingly likely that at least one of the Blues’ current first-choice centre-forwards will be off to a new club very soon.
That player is Richarlison who seems to be on his way possibly to Tottenham as rumours grow he is close to a move to north London. At the moment it’s just paper talk so we’ll see if anything substantial comes of it.
As for Dominic Calvert-Lewin its still not certain whether he will be a Toffees’ player when the new season kicks off and recently he has been strongly and consistently linked with a move away.
Assuming one of them does go, and depending on what money Everton get for Richarlison and or Calvert-Lewin, then manager Frank Lampard will have some cash to bring in fresh attacking talent.
However, given the state of the club’s finances it looks as though the Blues’ will have to spend very wisely as there are so many other areas of the team apart from up front that need attention.
Central midfield and defence are both critical parts of the side that need serious investment to improve and so money will surely be tight this summer.
That means existing squad players who stay at Goodison Park will certainly need to step up and contribute more to help improve the team’s performances.
One of them is Gordon. The Everton youth team product had a solid first full season after some inconsistent early performances, especially under Rafa Benitez, who was critical of his physical ability to sustain a full ninety minutes.
In the second half of the season though, he stepped up and produced some excellent efforts showing a real willingness to work hard for the side and he also created and scored his first few goals as well.
Gordon has pace, the ability to carry the ball and beat a man and is comfortable with either foot. He’s also beefed up considerably and is a lot stronger than when he first broke into the team.
He has also been playing extremely well for the England Under-21s and importantly regularly scoring goals, and must be hoping he might get a shot at a place in the senior squad soon too.
To do that though he will need a strong season next term and to produce more end product in an Everton shirt. Mind you given how little profile and positive coverage the Blues’ get, it still might not get him that chance!
So, with finances tight and the chances of getting a ready-made 20-goal centre-forward in such a competitive transfer market being slim, next season Gordon needs to come through with more of that end product both for his club and country.
If the 21-year-old can add another ten plus goals and five or so assists to his game then he will also potentially save Lampard and the club a lot of money over the next few years.