After an initial move was rebuked by Everton, a second Chelsea bid for Anthony Gordon is increasingly likely. According to Fabrizio Romano, there is potential for a cash-plus-player deal, with the Toffees holding an interest in midfielder Conor Gallagher.
Chelsea Could Make Second Bid for Everton’s Anthony Gordon
Chelsea are discussing internally of new proposal for Anthony Gordon as opening bid worth £40m has been rejected by Everton today. 🚨🔵 #CFC
Chelsea could try to include players in the deal as Frank Lampard wanted more than one CFC player this summer. pic.twitter.com/ntszwCnmBU
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 14, 2022
What Was the First Bid?
The first bid the Blues made for Gordon came to approximately £40 million. The news emerged shortly before the Stamford Bridge side welcomed Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur to the ground, ending in a 2-2 draw.
Gordon is influential at Everton, starting up front in the season opener against Thomas Tuchel’s side and retaining his place in the middle of the front three for the 2-1 loss against Aston Villa in the second match of the season.
What Could the Chelsea Second Bid Entail?
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin out injured for over a month and Richarlison having completed a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this season, a second Chelsea bid will have to be high to tempt Frank Lampard into a sale. Everton are already short on attacking options and losing Gordon could be a death knell for the club if they don’t do any more business.
The Blues are considering involving players in a second bid. Whereas most deals involve exclusively money, Chelsea have a wealth of young talent to include in a deal, including Conor Gallagher. Although Thomas Tuchel values the midfielder, he has admitted that the situation isn’t ideal. The England international will be pushing for a place in the World Cup squad and Everton is an opportunity for more minutes.
Is Anthony Gordon Worth it for Chelsea?
Whilst Anthony Gordon is a strong young talent, spending too much on him is a significant risk. Conor Gallagher was hugely impressive last season and could be a major part of the Chelsea squad. Importantly, Chelsea are pursuing midfielders including Frenkie de Jong. Losing a midfielder for a winger-cum-striker in these circumstances seems unwise.
The young Evertonian is also a potentially risky investment. The winger is in the bottom third of all players in the top five leagues in attacking statistics including goals, xG, assists, shots and passes (including completion) per 90. The youngster has some clear potential, but investing too heavily in the player risks throwing a significant sum at a player that might not develop to Chelsea’s standards.
