Everton looking to tie Anthony Gordon to new long-term deal

Reports indicate Everton are preparing to offer 21-year-old forward Anthony Gordon a huge new contract to keep him on Merseyside and fend off potential suitors.

Gordon’s future has been under constant speculation as rumours persisted of bids from other Premier League clubs for the Everton youth product.

The young forward has risen through the ranks at Goodison Park and last season he had his breakthrough campaign finally securing a regular first-team place and producing some excellent performances, especially in the second half of the season.

Perhaps inevitably though, after such a horrendous season last time round, the club’s awful financial position and the sale of Richarlison, other clubs are ready to test the Toffees’ resolve to keep their other key playing assets.

Newcastle United were apparently particularly keen to try and prise Gordon away from Everton this summer. However so far, neither they or any other club have come in with a concrete bid for him.

In some ways this situation created a bit of a dilemma for the Blues’ as the sort of figures being talked about, had they been proved accurate, might have proved a real temptation to sell.

While a huge fee for a 21-year-old who has still to fully prove himself as a Premier League player could be very attractive to a club in the sort of financial mess Everton are in, Gordon in a way represents the future of the club.

He’s a local lad, an Evertonian and has come through the club’s ranks so he represents a good pathway for other players in the youth system.

Getting more players out of the youth structure who can make it to the first-team squad, is something the Toffees’ really need to maximise over the next few years as money will likely remain very tight, especially with the new stadium still to be completed.

It also makes a statement of intent if the club keeps hold of it’s best young talent and having just given Gordon the number ten shirt, it seems the club are ready to do just that.