Pundit verdict on Everton accepting Anthony Gordon swap offer as source reveals new details
Noel Whelan has backed Everton to reject Chelsea’s swap deal approach for star forward Anthony Gordon.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested Michy Batshuayi and Billy Gilmour may not be desirable options for Toffees boss Frank Lampard.
A source updated this site on Thursday (18 August) to reveal Chelsea have offered midfielder Gilmour and striker Batshuayi plus cash in exchange for Gordon.
Football Insider reported earlier this week (16 August) that the Blues were readying a new £50million bid for the 21-year-old after submitting an initial £40million offer.
Batshuayi and Gilmour, who have both been linked with Everton this summer, spent the 2021-22 campaign on loan at Besiktas and Norwich City respectively.
Lampard has been linked with reinforcements in midfield and up front following injuries to Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Whelan compared Batshuayi to current Everton flop Salomon Rondon.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “You’ve got to actually want these players. They have to be desirable.
“Batshuayi? He’s like a Rondon, for me. He comes with expectations but hasn’t produced in the Premier League.
“It’s up to Lampard. He has to feel like he and Gilmour are good additions to his team and potentially useful throughout the season.
“If not, they’re better off taking the money and getting someone, you desperately want.
“That way, you’re getting a player you 100% want at the club, rather than taking players to fill a bench.
“It sounds good – but is it? You have to fork out the wages and a financial structure for these two players.
“It’s not going to be cheap.”
In other news, Football Insider updates as Everton make move to sign Ollie Watkins after source’s reveal.