Everton eye Armando Broja replacement as Dominic Calvert-Lewin wanted at Newcastle

Graeme Bailey claims that Everton’s decision to recruit Armando Broja from Chelsea is contingent upon Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s sale this summer.

On June 1, the journalist wrote on TBR Football’s website, stating that the 22-year-old, whose team is eager to sell since selling him would be a “huge help” in terms of earnings and sustainability at Stamford Bridge, has already piqued the curiosity of the Toffees.

However, a transfer to Goodison Park would mean taking over for the exit-linked Calvert-Lewin, who, according to The Telegraph on May 23, is sought by Newcastle and has a year remaining on his contract despite having been given an extension.

Before the season ended, Kevin Thelwell acknowledged that sales were likely this summer. Although Manchester United is pursuing star defender Jarrad Branthwaite, Paul Joyce of The Times (30 May) reported that Everton would be more willing to part with a number of other players, including Amadou Onana.

Would Chelsea striker be a downgrade for Everton?

Losing Calvert-Lewin this summer would be devastating for the Toffees, as he has demonstrated his importance to the team when healthy and performing well.

Everton’s impact has been regularly diminished in recent seasons due to recurrent injury concerns, but he bounced back to make 38 appearances in all last season and score eight goals in all competitions.

With only one year remaining on his contract, a player may find it tough to turn down a sizable offer to sell given the financial strain on the team.

Although Broja showed promise as a teenager at Vitesse and Southampton, he has struggled with form and injury himself in the last several seasons, scoring just three goals for Chelsea before playing very little on loan at Fulham since January.

If Calvert-Lewin were to depart, Sean Dyche would undoubtedly be in desperate need of a successor, but it’s debatable if the Stamford Bridge player would be worth the money he may demand given that a buyer would still be paying for potential above all else.
Youssef Chermiti was signed by the team last summer along with senior forward Beto, although it was possibly a mistake to allow Ellis Simms to depart for Coventry on a very inexpensive contract.

Even if high-profile transactions are made, Dyche and Thelwell will probably have to hire on a shoestring for a variety of roles, and replacing a reliable, if unreliable, option in Calvert-Lewin with Broja may prove to be a risk.

In unrelated Everton news, John Textor’s actions about a takeover at Goodison Park have created a “true mystery.”