Everton have no intention of selling Calvert-Lewin or Beto

My concern is that, if Calvert-Lewin doesn't sign a new deal and ends up signing a pre-contract deal with another club in January, then there is no incentive for him to perform well or risk injury for the remaining time he is with us.

It's a difficult one as I would like him to stay but at the same time I do agree with the club's stance on his salary demands.

Again, will probably be something nobody is prepared to make any decisions on until Friedkin hopefully takes over.

I love Calvert-Lewin and pray every week that he scores and kicks off a good run but if, based on his record so far, he gets a move to Juventus, his agent will have played a blinder!

I doubt very much a top-half Premier League team would take him. Whether that's his fault or Dyche's I can't decide but he's not developed anywhere near as well as I hoped.

Beto?? Just another Niasse for me. We need to go front three with a forward-thinking manager. If Calvert-Lewin stays and the new manager can harness him in that formation, I'll be delighted.

He must look at his old pal Tom Davis and wonder does a nice earner from a transfer and better wages at a new club necessarily equate to the grass being greener somewhere else.

He's king Tut here when fit guaranteed a place – which might not be the case elsewhere. I doubt top clubs will take him so, if destined to play for a non-competitive outfit, Goodison is about as good as it gets.

Guess it depends on the monies involved.

Tom Davies! Now that’s a whole other thread!
I had such high hopes of him!
Broke my heart, he did.

Tom Davies hung around with Calvert-Lewin.

Say no more!

The questions everyone should be asking and answering, is what has he done, as a goal scorer for us in recent times. The answer is sweet sod all. I suppose there is a second question and that is what chance is there and what guarantees are there that the future will bring an improvement in that.

That is why the club is quite rightly not giving him what he is asking for.

There will be those, through sentiment or other reasons, argue differently but in reality the answer has got to be based on the first question. And the answer, however difficult to stomach for some to digest, has to be no he isn't worth taking that chance on.

I suppose that there should a third question. Would we go out a sign him for £25M? I suggest not. If he leaves I would wish him the very best and good luck in his new venture but the decision needs to be made not on sentiment as we are entering a new age where 'jobs for the boys' have ended. This would be one of those cases. Sorry. The decision is his to make, not the club's.

Ralph # 5… what exactly does that mean?

I was wondering the same, Rob.

Re Calvert-Lewin songs I'm surprised and disappointed that Bella Ciao didn't catch on.

I know there's no loyalty in football any more, hasn't been for a long time.

But still, my hope was that, even if he intends to move on, Dom would sign a new contract so Everton, who have stuck with him through thick and very thin, could at least get a fee.

Hopefully, The Friedkin Group will complete the takeover by December. There is no doubt that, when they take over, nothing will be easy for them.

The stadium completion will run smoothly enough, they then will have to sort out the executive function of the club and implement changes to impose their Culture.

I expect there to be resistance to these chancges from a structure that was self-preserving at the expense of the club's progress for years.

Similarly on the football side, you have a manager brought in to avoid relegation and manage within a limited budget. The squad is threadbare and any value has been hollowed out. Calvert-Lewin was not sold for whatever reason during the Summer.

On top of all that, Everton could face a points deduction.

I don't expect any of the parties involved to do The Friedkin Group a favour. So the Friedkin Group is going to have to be pretty hard-nosed. There are so many contracts finishing at the same time, such has been the short-termism of decisions made at Everton.

Calvert-Lewin and Beto could be sold or loaned out. There is really no hiding from necessary change at Everton.

I can even see them bringing in someone to work alongside Dyche in some capacity.

Everton has been real badly run even up to now.

Peter #6, we might not want to sign him for £25M, but who could we get that's better for £25M?

I remember someone pointing out on a previous Calvert-Lewin thread that to give him what he wants would cost the Club £1.5M.

Do we really want to lose him for that and have to spend £25M on someone that's no better?

It's a big risk to take, but then maybe Calvert-Lewin wants to move himself if, for instance, he's not happy with the style of play and thinks he could do better in a different set up. Wasn't he an England international at one time? No chance of him getting back into the squad with us at the moment.

Ralph Basnett 5: "Tom Davies hung around with Calvert-Lewin, say no more!".

Would you like to explain (translate) that for us, Ralph? Otherwise some people – what are they like – might impute some of their false thoughts about your comments on you and even characterise you as this or that.

So clear it all up for us, Ralph. I bet it's something side-splittingly hilarious, you salty old dog.

Jerome #10, even by your colorful standards, that's a festival of unfounded speculation.

The stadium completion will precede sorting out the "executive function", whatever that is? So if Friedkin completes the takeover in December he will wait until the turf is properly fertilized next summer to name a CEO and a Board?

How could there be "resistance" from an executive structure that now barely exists? Who would resist? Chong? Thelwell? Richard Kenyon, the PR guy? The club doctor? How and why would they do so?

If Branthwaite and Pickford could be sold for a combined £120M or so, and both the new stadium and the new TV deal will help fill the club's coffers, how has the value of the club been "hollowed out"?

What reason, besides the lack of offers, was the "some reason" that Calvert-Lewin wasn't sold?

Why does Everton face another points deduction under the new ownership?

Why does Friedkin and his $7B net worth need a "favour" from anyone? And if so, who and what favour?

Why would Calvert-Lewin and Beto be loaned out?

In what capacity would "someone" be brought in to work alongside Dyche? Who and why?

I await enlightenment…

"Why does Everton face another points deduction under the new ownership?"

I know the answer to that one, Mike. We're in the dock again this season for PSR related to the accounting of interest on the stadium. Something left over from last season as it was deemed "too complex" to resolve quickly.

Great post Mike - 13. My neck hurts you xxxxxxx, too much nodding.

Eric - 14. I didn't know or had forgotten that. Thanks for the heads up.

I like that Mike. You cover the salient points.

With regards to Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies, I too am a bit perplexed by the earlier statement.

They played for the same team and share an interest in fashion. Of course they will have hung out.

I hope Dominic breaks the net on Saturday.

Calvert-Lewin on his day is brilliant for us, but those days are too few and far between for me. As has been mentioned, he believes he is better than he is in holding out for either a better offer or some club to come in and take him for free with a big signing-on fee. Get shut of both if we can and get serious goal threats in their place.

Beto will never make a Premier League striker as long as his sphincter points downwards. Can't fault him for effort – that is when he manages to stay on his feet! Whatever Thelwell (presumably) saw in him is beyond me, unless he just happened to see him fluke a few goals in, against his normal performance.

Then again, he seemed to do okay according to stats in Italy. So… simples: send him back with as much as we can recoup.

Three factors at play, in priority order:

Get wins on the board.
Takeover in December.
See what January brings.

It will be a shame if he runs his contract down and we get niente. But I suppose for a £1.5M outlay, it's not like we've lost much in the bigger scheme of things.

You could put a price on that 3rd goal against Palace that secured our top flight status.

Mike #13

"...a festival of unfounded speculation..."

You have just written Jerome's epiptath.

Yes, Mike, obviously our opinions differ and you are entitled to yours.

I agree that Branthwaite and Pickford have value, but I was thinking in terms of a more immediate realization of value due to contracts coming to a end.

There will be changes at executive level in personnel and accountability. It is inevitable in such a loss-making situation. It will be the first thing that they look at. I bet they are already looking at it.

On the Calvert-Lewin and Beto situation: a new manager may have other ideas and a January window is coming up.

Everton will be in breach of PSR rules. They had already after two years of the three. They need to make a profit in the 2023-24 Financial year (fat chance) to avoid a breach. I expect increased losses. But I hope the Premier League will work with the new owners.

I don't envisage any problems with the stadium completion. The Friedkin Group own a fair wack of it already in charges. As for anyone coming to the end of their contract, they will be seeking to advance. If they aren't, their agents will.

Brendan, thanks for your support.

Mike, I agree pretty much with everything you've said. I would just add that from the "executive" I think there should be some acknowledgement of the work Colin Chong has done.

He was brought in to manage the construction of the new stadium and it appears he has done that very successfully. He also had the CEO role thrust upon him 18 months ago, probably as he was the last man standing! He at least appears to have stabilised the administration of the club on a day-to-day basis.

Also, re the PSR point you and Eric mention. We are not yet "in the dock" as the Premier League commission have been unable to decide if our treatment of the interest was within the rules or not.

This is another example of poor Premier League rules. How can it possibly take over 6 months to decide this? If in the normal judicial system laws were so unclear any prosecution would be thrown out of court.

By the way, I think the differences regarding interest will be forgotten about. Everton did withdraw their appeal. It is the financial results for the last three years that is the problem.

As for Chong, he may survive in that he was following the Board's lead and may be able to adapt to The Friedkin Group requirements. I define the executive function as the management operating the Club, rather than one individual. Apologies if this was not clear.

Eric @11, (with numbers added for reference):

1. We might not want to sign him for £25M, but who could we get that's better for £25M?

2. I remember someone pointing out on a previous Calvert-Lewin thread that to give him what he wants would cost the Club £1.5M.

3. Do we really want to lose him for that and have to spend £25M on someone that's no better?

4. It's a big risk to take, but then maybe Calvert-Lewin wants to move himself if, for instance, he's not happy with the style of play and thinks he could do better in a different set up. Wasn't he an England international at one time? No chance of him getting back into the squad with us at the moment.

Eric – I'm afraid I need to take issue with every point you made in your post as they don't hold up when you think about it.

1. I doubt anyone would spend £25M on him so, if he stays (and we give him the wage rise he is looking for) as you suggest, we are left with another ever-decreasing 'asset'. He will walk at the end of his contract and we will be faced with the same problem.

2. What is £1.5M, I hear you ask? It is money we can't afford to throw down the drain on a non-scoring main striker. It is money that would go towards any number of more useful things associated with our move to the new stadium.

3. Simple answer. All incomings, irrespective of their cost, are an unknown quantity to a degree, so we don't know. Unsatisfactory, but that is the way it is.

4. Yes, I agree that he was an England international. He isn't now and hasn't been in the squad for some time now. That tells us something. It tells most people that his value to them has decreased considerably.

Calvert-Lewin probably does fancy a move but he also wants the security he already has. It is a problem to solve. He needs to make the decision, not the club.

We have to grow up as a club and start living in the real world, the same as our fellow bedfellows in the Premier League are doing. Look where the ways of the past have got us. The sooner we change, the better.

I sincerely hope that Calvert-Lewin ends up happy with whatever choice he makes but, as I've said before, it really is up to him. Remember, he has been offered a new contract but refused it.

He was an England international during Carlo's time when he had James and Gylfi in the Everton team.

Since then, he has lost both of them so cannot hang around the 6-yard box, a succession of injuries and the arrival of other players in the England squad (eg, Watkins).

Personally I do not think he will ever play for England again and it would only be if he replaced Haaland would he score as many goals in a season as he did under Carlo.

Now if we could only persuade Carlo to buy Haaland and Pep to see Calvert-Lewin as his replacement, we could get a good fee for him.

Not doubting you, Eric, but I'm confused. I thought we tried to offset that interest in our defence against the original penalty as it shouldn't count towards the playing costs, but were turned down and thus it took us over the limit?

If that's the case, surely it's double jeopardy?

Mark #26, some sources for you

HP

Daddies

Ketchup

Eric @ 27,

I don't think even they, will 'cut the mustard'. :-)

Thanks, Eric.

Hopefully nothing will come of it, especially given that Spurs were given a pass for the same costs.

Peter #24,

1. If we don't have him, we'll have to buy someone else 'cos he will walk in June 2025. That would mean spending a lot more than the £1.5M you think is so essential to our needs.

2. So wouldn't the £25M we save on not buying a replacement be more beneficial than the £1.5M that you want to save?

3. Well you got that point right.

4. As Phil @25 points out, Calvert-Lewin was of value to the England squad when Carlo was our manager and we were playing a different style of football. Maybe he thinks that, if he was playing that style of football again, he could show the new incoming England manager his value? Or maybe he would just feel happier in himself playing a different style of football than he is now?

So it might all just come down to who Friedkin decides is going to be manager, when that decision is made, and whether anyone offers Calvert-Lewin a better contract than he would get with us.

Mike@13, Danny@16&18 - Cool heads. Thanks. We need them.

Although somewhat muddled, Peter @6 made an interesting point, too!

"Everton have no intention of selling Calvert-Lewin or Beto"

Just as well no one else wants them so.

Apart from Newcastle, and if rumours are to believed, Juventus wanting Calvert -Lewin, then you’re probably right, Pat.

Pat #32,

I've read multiple rumors in recent weeks of Serie A interest in Beto. He was well-respected in Italy.

Beto can go in a heartbeat, horrendous footballer.

I was calling for Gyökeres from Coventry 2 years ago. Great touch and a goalscorer… But no, only Everton could sign Beto instead.

Dean, we couldn't afford Gyökeres. Sporting were offering a big chunk of the fee and we couldn't match that.

Out of the options available for little or no fee up front, Beto looked like the best option. It's not worked out but hindsight is a fine thing.

Mark #26,

Yes, you are right... the Independent Commission found against us. However, Everton and the Premier League came up with different figures in terms of how many millions we had overshot PSR.

It was decided that a further hearing would be required to decide the actual extent of the breach.

I suspect it was, and still is, on the long finger pending the outworkings of the recent Manchester City case.

Mike Gaynes @ 34; make it so...with a suitable (read cheaper and better) replacement lined up.

Dean @ 35; hear, hear.

I'm in the keep DCL camp. A fine hold up no 9, one of the best in the PL for that in fact. He is not a great finisher and is a patchy goalscorer but brings alot of players into play.

Personally given what it would cost to replace him, I would give him what he wants. I am not even sure we can afford a better player at what he does do. Before anyone jumps on me for that, yes I know there are lots of expensive strikers in Europe scoring for fun but this is the premier league. Its not a sure thing.

I think we should look to ship Beto to Italy if a half decent offer comes in, use that money towards someone who can really challenge DCL to the starting spot. Or even (bare with me I know this is going to sound crazy) buy someone to play alongside him?

I am not expecting Friedkin to spend loads so we need to have targets locked and loaded. I would start by seeking to ship Doucs (last year of his contract) to Saudi. I personally still believe Patterson can come good but all baring a miracle I think if we get an offer we should ship him.

Keep Dom, sell Doucs, Beto and Patterson. By a quality RB, a back up LB with potential. Another winger and another striker. Build a team around Pickford, Branthwaite and Illiman the wizard.

If Juve are serious about Calvert-Lewin, doesn't really matter if people want him to stay or go, he'll be gone in a heartbeat.

Bit of a no-brainer – us or Juventus?!

I'm just surprised a club of that stature is being linked with him given how few goals he scores. Missed a few more good chances yesterday.

As for Beto, if we get a decent offer, sell. He may come good still but on current performances we should twist if we can.

Denis, we will have only Chermiti then if we did that! Yes, we'd get some $ for Calvert-Lewin but not much, we will make a significant loss on Beto, perhaps we could get £25-£30M for the pair.

So we would need to buy two strikers and then bed them in, it would be nonsensical IMO, I'd rather we keep Dom and build around him. Get someone in who could really challenge him, motivate him to start hitting the onion bag more.

Steve 41, not disagreeing necessarily but coming at it differently.

If Calvert-Lewin is genuinely wanted by Juve, he'll be in Turin next summer, regardless what we or the club want. I cannot imagine at this stage in his career he'd pass that up. Whether Juve are willing to pay to get him in January is a different matter. I'd assume they'll be happy to wait until summer and pay us nothing.

Beto is a different issue. I'd love him to come good (could say he needs more time) but, on current showing, it's not looking likely. Whatever we paid (are yet to pay) for him is not really relevant. If he's not good enough, then cut your losses and move on. This is his second season and Calvert-Lewin has been out injured during the time he's been here and he's not really made an impact.

We obviously don't need to sell either in January but, if good offers come in, especially for Beto, then the club will have to have a think. Currently I don't think we'll really miss Beto and it's not like we've got loads of cup games.

January is 2½ months away so a lot can still change. We also have Broja about to come in; if he stays fit, then even less reason to hang on to Beto if we get an offer.

Denis thanks for your comment, I had actually forgotten about Broja!

I'd be looking to sell both in January. Could we get £30M for both and bring in someone more suitable for the role?

I think if Chermiti can stay fit he'll be a very good player. But as is the case with many young players. Injuries add up and ruin a career before it gets going.

Broja is another case in point. Both better than Dom or Beto but as much use as a chocolate kettle if they can't play.

Just watched a Youtube in which wee see Trevor Steves scoring v Bayern and Kevin Sheedy against Rapid Vienna in 1985. Both are put away one-on-one with keepers coming out towards them. Both get ready and lift the ball over the on-rushing keeper and score.

Please, please will somebody at Finch Farm show these goals and tactics to Calvert-Lewin, who always seems to hit the ball along the ground in similar situations!