Chelsea had an initial bid of £40m-£45m rejected by Everton this month but the club are prepared to increase their offer; Everton's position is the player is not for sale but forward wants to move to Stamford Bridge; Everton exploring the signing of Southampton striker Che Adams
Thursday 25 August 2022 13:30, UK
Chelsea are pressing ahead with their attempt to sign Anthony Gordon from Everton, with high-level talks continuing between the two clubs.
Gordon is one of Thomas Tuchel's top targets this summer and Chelsea are prepared to pay £60m to bring the 21-year-old to Stamford Bridge.
Gordon, who has two years remaining on his current contract, was an unused substitute in Everton's EFL Cup second-round victory at Fleetwood Town on Tuesday.
Toffees boss Frank Lampard confirmed Gordon had been left out as an injury precaution but would not be drawn on whether the player had asked to leave the club.
Speaking after the game, Lampard told reporters: "Everyone knows there's interest from Chelsea but he's our player, simple as that."
When asked if reports suggesting Gordon has asked to leave Goodison Park were true, Lampard said: "I'm never going to go into conversations between me and Anthony. We've got a good relationship and I won't even go there."
Everton's position on Gordon is that the player is not for sale, with Lampard confirming he would ideally like the forward to remain at Goodison Park.
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
"It's a lot of money for a young player who is just coming onto the scene, but I don't see how Everton could accept that. The position they find themselves in right now, lacking attacking players.
"He's the one big hope for the club. The supporters aren't deaf at Everton. They've lost their first two games and they know they're in for a difficult season. They need attacking players to come in so there's no way they can let him go.
"Especially with him being a local lad, he's the one fans are hanging their hats on. I think it would have to be a lot higher than that if Everton are going to sanction that."
Sky Sports football journalist Ben Grounds:
"During an interview with Sky Sports over two years ago, Gordon revealed he was reading Dr Steve Peters' The Chimp Paradox, which provides a mind management programme that helps elite athletes to conquer their fears and operate with control, focus and confidence.
"'It's teaching me that people can have two voices in their heads - the good voice and the bad voice - so it's about how to balance them and deal with that,' he said.
"Gordon may well be wrestling with a similar dilemma to make the right choice now for his career. But if Chelsea are to offer £60m for a player reluctant to sign a new deal, Everton must also consider what is now best for them."
Everton want to sign a forward and one target is Che Adams at Southampton.
One source has told us the deal under discussion would value Adams at up to £25m.
Scotland international Adams moved to Southampton from Birmingham in 2019 and has gone on to score 22 goals in 98 Premier League appearances, including two in two games this season.
Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has underlined the club's stance on Adams at his press conference ahead of their Manchester United encounter this weekend.
"He is our player and we will definitely not sell him this summer," Hasenhuttl said. "I am more concentrating on getting him into the position to score goals.
"His mood in the last weeks has changed completely since he scored, since we changed shape this helps him definitely. I think this is the reason he feels more comfortable in this role."
Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi is close to finalising a loan move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Sky Sports News has been told his representatives, brother, Bradley and his father, are in advanced talks with Bundesliga club.
As many as 20 clubs in England and in Europe were interested in signing Hudson-Odoi.
There is still work to do to get the deal done, but increased confidence and willingness from all parties to complete the straight loan deal.
Hudson-Odoi, who has two years left on his Chelsea contract, came close to joining Borussia Dortmund on loan last summer - only for Chelsea to block the move on Deadline Day.
Who will be on the move this summer before the transfer window closes at 11pm on September 1?
Keep up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports' digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News.
