Newcastle United have reportedly joined Arsenal in the race to sign Everton hitman Dominic Calvert-Lewin this month.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Newcastle United are interested in signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin and could test the waters by submitting a late bid in the winter transfer window as they remain keen on adding another striker to boost their Premier League survival bid. The 24-year-old looks set to find himself in the middle of a transfer battle as Newcastle rival Arsenal in the race for the Everton striker’s signature.
Calvert-Lewin has made great strides since joining Everton from Sheffield United in the summer of 2016 as a teenage prodigy. The English striker has established himself as one of the fiercest attackers in the Premier League, particularly progressing considerably under the tutelage of former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The Englishman has hit double figures in the top-flight in each of the last two campaigns, netting a prolific total of 21 goals from 39 games in all competitions for Everton last term. He is also a full-fledged England international and has 11 caps to his name, generally playing as a backup for Harry Kane in Gareth Southgate’s England setup.
The English centre-forward has struggled for fitness this season but has still averaged a goal every two games when he has played. Calvert-Lewin has been tipped to move to the Emirates since last summer. West Ham are also said to be among the clubs chasing him, although Calvert-Lewin’s £60 million valuation might put the Hammers off. Now, cash-rich Newcastle have become the latest club to enter the race to sign him.
Despite signing Chris Wood from Burnley for £25 million earlier this month, Calvert-Lewin has remained a subject of interest for the Newcastle hierarchy, who have internally discussed a potential deal to sign the England international from Everton. As the Magpies’ hunt for a new talisman on Tyneside continues, Calvert-Lewin has been dubbed as the ideal contender to follow in the footsteps of iconic No. 9 Alan Shearer.
Newcastle’s current options are all nearing or over 30, indicating that the club’s striking contingent requires a revamp. Calvert-Lewin is a proven Premier League performer and could act as a focal point up top. At just 24 years old, his best years are still ahead of him.
Newcastle will face stiff competition from Arsenal, who have long admired the Everton man. The Gunners face a striker crisis, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of favour, while Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah’s deals expire at the end of the season. Arsenal were recently rejected by their top target Dusan Vlahovic, who has instead joined Juventus this month. Calvert-Lewin has emerged as one of the alternatives alongside Alexander Isak.
As it stands, Everton are braced to receive late bids for their star striker from potential suitors but are unlikely to sanction a deal. Given their precarious position in the league, they could easily be dragged into the relegation scrap and will need his goals to beat the drop. That said, Everton are in turmoil at the moment, so it would not be surprising if Calvert-Lewin leaves in the summer for a better project.