Writing in his latest Daily Mail column, pundit Jamie Redknapp believes that Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin could save the club an awful lot of money as long as he is willing to learn and improve.
What did he say?
Well, the 22-year-old kept up his fine run of form and moved into double figures for the season after scoring his ninth and 10th goals of the campaign in the 2-1 win against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday.
The Englishman had been something of a regular starter this term under Marco Silva and caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson – starting 11 of 18 Premier League games – and things haven’t changed since new manager Carlo Ancelotti took charge with him being named in the XI for both of the Italian’s top flight games to date.
Redknapp was certainly impressed with the all-round display from the former Sheffield United man at the weekend, and believes he could solve what has undoubtedly been a problem position since Romelu Lukaku left in 2017 – as long as he has the right attitude.
The former Liverpool midfielder wrote in The Daily Mail: “It feels like every transfer window, you hear about how Everton simply have to sign a top striker.
“But Calvert-Lewin should want to take on that role himself. I’d love to see him have a real crack at it. If this young forward is willing to listen and wants to learn, he might save that club an awful lot of money in the summer.”
Could he be right?
He may well be.
The Liverpool Echo reported prior to Ancelotti’s appointment that he likes one striker to work hard and the other to be a goalscorer in his preferred 4-4-2 formation, but Calvert-Lewin is doing both of those things right now.
He is clocking up the kilometres across the line but is still getting those critical goals too – his brace against the Magpies took him to five goals in his previous five Premier League outings.
How much do you really know about the Farhad Moshiri era? Answer 25 simple questions below…
Whether he can keep that consistent form up remains to be seen, but he should take huge confidence that the 60-year-old said post-match that he thinks he is “going to be at the top in England and in Europe”.
Saturday may also have been the start of a budding relationship between him and Moise Kean, and if the young Italian can get on the goal trail soon, then Everton simply won’t need to spend big on a new centre-forward anytime soon.
In other Everton news, this Sam Allardyce signing could be the big loser after Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical masterstroke paid off…