Newcastle United have reportedly made Everton hitman Dominic Calvert-Lewin their priority target as they plot a move for a striker this summer.
According to 90 min, Newcastle United could still look to sign Everton talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer despite the potential reluctance from the Toffees to sell another key asset, having already sold Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur.
Newcastle United have had a mixed transfer window so far, landing several targets but missing out on others. They have spent in excess of £55 million until now on Matt Targett, Nick Pope, and Sven Botman, but Eddie Howe has yet to bring in the striker he wants.
The Magpies were beaten in the race to sign Hugo Ekitike by Paris Saint-Germain, despite agreeing on terms with Stade de Reims. A striker remains high on Howe’s shopping list, and Newcastle have since moved on to other targets. But they have had little success, with rumoured interest in players like Armando Broja, Gabriel Barbosa, Alexander Isak, and Ivan Toney not bearing fruit as of yet.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton is another player who has been linked with a move to St. James’ Park ever since the takeover was completed last year. But a deal appeared to be off the cards in recent times, with Everton demanding over £50 million for their star hitman.
However, 90 min now says that the 25-year-old England international has remained Newcastle’s priority striker target this summer. The Toon are ready to push the boat out to bring him to St. James’ Park but are playing a waiting game to get reduced prices.
While Calvert-Lewin is an established Premier League striker, remarkably scoring 21 goals and providing five assists under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti during the 2020/21 season, he largely struggled last season due to injuries and only managed five goals in 18 appearances for the Toffees.
Looking at his recent injury history, signing the England international for a high price becomes a huge risk for Newcastle. But if Calvert-Lewin overcomes those issues and turns out to be a consistent performer, the investment will be worth it. At 25, he still has his peak ahead of him. Even last term, he showed signs of returning to form late on, stepping up to score the winner against Crystal Palace, which kept Everton afloat in the top-flight.
The Toffees have lost their best player in Richarlison while only bringing in James Tarkowski on a free transfer due to financial constraints. Everton appear to be in disarray and need to bring fresh faces through the door, especially after being hammered 4-0 in a pre-season friendly against MLS side Minnesota United.
The Merseyside outfit may still need to bring in additional funds to help balance their books and re-invest in their own squad. That is the reason why Newcastle are still keeping tabs on Calvert-Lewin in the hope of raiding Everton at the right time when they may lower their asking price with the new season fast approaching.
The report also adds that Newcastle have also been offered the chance to sign Memphis Depay, and Atalanta’s striking powerhouse Duvan Zapata. But Howe is unsure over the duo’s age profiles and compatibility with his system, making Everton hitman Calvert-Lewin the ideal target.
