Everton could be about to face the biggest test of their summer if Chelsea decide to make a sustained effort to sign Anthony Gordon.
The 21-year-old has become a significant figure at the club following a breakthrough season that saw him help to lead the Blues to safety. Along with Richarlison he was a talisman for the Goodison Park crowd and behind key moments that included a crucial winner against Manchester United.
But, like with Richarlison, his heroics amid Everton's struggle last season have led to him attracting attention from elsewhere. First it was Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur and now it is Chelsea that are interested in him. Should Chelsea's interest turn into a persistent campaign to secure his services, those in charge at the club will have a difficult decision to make.
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His performances in blue led to an England Under-21 opportunity that he has firmly grasped, cementing his place in the international set up with goals and impressive displays. It was no surprise then when Spurs, who prised Richarlison from Merseyside, and the newly well-off Newcastle expressed interest in the winger from Kirkdale with the world at his feet.
At the time, Everton were explicit in their stance. The club would not countenance the sale of their academy graduate. In the weeks that followed the club toured the US where Gordon spoke to the ECHO about the approaching season. He said: "I'm really excited. I feel like I've got a lot of responsibility on my shoulders, which I am ready for. I'm really excited, I can't wait."
Of his ambitions within the side, he added: "Just to be much better than last year. I think last year I sacrificed a lot of my game because of the situation we were in, so this year I really want to contribute and excel with goals and assists as well."
A lot has happened since then. Everton have lost the two opening games of the season and suffered the catastrophic injury to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was expected to be the main source of goals this season. Operating as a false nine in those games, Gordon is once again sacrificing himself for the good of a team decimated by injuries.
Even before the defeats to Chelsea and Aston Villa and the loss of Calvert-Lewin, Frank Lampard was clear in his need to address a "void" of forward options. This followed the sale of Richarlison in a £60m deal signed off just before the end of the most recent financial year and which was crucial to a club close to profit and sustainability limits after three consecutive accounting periods that included significant losses.
This is now a different year and a different situation. Everton's financial circumstances have been boosted by the Richarlison money, new sponsorship deals and the expiration of the contracts of several highly paid players. There was deemed to be enough room to budget for the exciting purchase of midfielder Amadou Onana in a deal that will eventually cost the club in excess of £30m.
Onana is part of a crop of exciting young players who, shepherded by experienced professionals like Conor Coady, James Tarkowski and Seamus Coleman, could be at the heart of a long-term rebuild. As well as Nathan Patterson, academy prospects like Lewis Warrington and Stanley Mills, and the experienced but still young Dwight McNeil, Gordon will hold a place at the heart of this vision.
To lose a Liverpool-born player that has caused such excitement since he burst onto the scene would be a terrible look for the club as it attempts to lay the foundation for a brighter future under Lampard and director of football Kevin Thelwell, who have already made clear progress in their short time working together.
But Chelsea have deep pockets, need forward players and, as shown by their pursuits of Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucerella, often get what they want. On Sunday night there were reports of a bid of around £40m being made by the Stamford Bridge outfit, and being rejected by Everton.
Should the remaining weeks of the transfer window descend into Chelsea turning their interest in Gordon to a dedicated campaign of bids then Everton's resolve will be seriously tested. For while the club would lose a talented, homegrown star with a bright future, there will still be financial pressures lingering. And Lampard's primary responsibility is to make competitive an Everton side that came too close to relegation last season and still needs a striker - and probably a central midfielder - before September 1.
Not only do Chelsea have the money that could fund the continued overhaul at Goodison Park, in the likes of Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja they also have players Everton have retained interest in and which could also form part of negotiations some at the club may not want to take part in, but could end up believing they need to.
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