Everton manager Frank Lampard has insisted that Anthony Gordon “is going nowhere” after Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have both been linked with moves for the Blues’ home grown hero.
It’s understood that Tottenham Hotspur tried to include Gordon in a double deal with Richarlison but that was dismissed out of hand by Goodison Park chiefs, with a subsequent £10million offer for the 21-year-old considered derisory.
Reports then claimed that Newcastle United had put in a £35million bid for Gordon but Everton have no intentions of parting with the winger who they have just handed the number 10 shirt to. Lampard told evertontv : “He’s worked for it (the new squad number). You have to earn the number 10.
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“I understand this desire for numbers with players. I was fortunate, I kind of fell into a number eight in my career.
“I didn’t go searching for it but I understand how it can feel important to you. But I absolutely feel now, especially with the 10 because it has a little bit of magic to it, a bit of flair, and Anthony’s got that.
“He has it in his own style. I’ve said to him, I don’t want him to try and think he’s doing pirouettes on the halfway line now.
“We need him doing what he was doing last year plus goals plus assists which Anthony is so hungry to do. But he’s earned it absolutely and he’s a link to the crowd, a link to the fans, a local boy who gives everything, a great talent.
“He’s going nowhere. He’s our player and that was a hugely-important thing to me, he’s the sort of player we want to build to go forward with. I’m delighted that he’s got his number 10 but now I want him to continue to earn it.”
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