Should Everton have kept hold of Calvert-Lewin?
Dominic Calvert-Lewin says leaving Everton "isn't something I chose lightly" - but should the club have done more to keep hold of the striker?The 28-year-old confirmed on Sunday he will become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the month."After nine remarkable years, I've made the incredibly difficult decision - together with my family - to begin a new chapter in my career," Calvert-Lewin, who scored 71 goals in 273 games after joining Everton from Sheffield United for £1.5m in 2016, posted on social media."This isn't something I chose lightly. Everton has been my home since I was 19 years old. It's the place that saw potential in me, challenged me to grow and shaped me both as a footballer and as a man."I want to express my gratitude to all the managers and coaches I've worked with over the years and to my team-mates who have become life-long friends."Earlier in June, BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha said he thought Everton should retain Calvert-Lewin, but on reduced terms.The former Manchester City defender added: "He is worth keeping for now because is there cover if Everton decide to let him go? Do they have someone who can fill those boots straight away?"I do not think Calvert-Lewin himself, nor anyone at Everton, really expects him to be a guaranteed starter going forward."If the club can find a way to offer him a new deal - on a reduced wage and perhaps appearance-based clauses - then I would keep him as a squad player."What do you think? Should the Blues have kept Calvert-Lewin rather than let him leave on a free? Do Everton need to sign a replacement - and, if so, who should they now target? Get in touch with your thoughts here
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
26 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Guardiola unsure if Club World Cup will affect City's Premier League campaign
Pep Guardiola concedes he does not know if Manchester City's next Premier League challenge will be 'destroyed' by their Club World Cup campaign or not. England manager Thomas Tuchel recently said the involvement of City and Chelsea in this summer's tournament in the United States would hand the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal a 'huge advantage' in the title race. Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has also described the event as 'the worst idea ever implemented in football' because of concerns over player welfare. Guardiola, however, insists City – who face Al-Hilal in a last-16 tie in Orlando on Monday night (2am Tuesday UK) – are focused on rediscovering their best after a frustrating 2024-25 season and claiming the prize. The City manager said: 'I try to relax, enjoy the days here and the good vibes that we have, the competition and we try to win it. 'The most important thing is to recover and find within ourselves what we were. That's my main target in this tournament. 'I want them to feel that this is our path again to be competitive like we have been in eight of the last nine years. 'After this, let's see what happens. Let's see what happens after the final. We will rest for the time the Premier League allow us. 'Maybe in November, December or January it will be a disaster, we are exhausted and the World Cup has destroyed us. 'I don't know, it's the first time in our lives that this has happened. We will see when we come back.' Guardiola says he can understand the viewpoint of his old rival Klopp, now head of global soccer for Red Bull, who had a team involved in the tournament in Salzburg. Yet he suggested people complaining might be jealous. Speaking at a press conference, Guardiola said: 'I fought a lot with Jurgen many, many times. I know where his idea comes from. 'I respect him, I would defend his argument as well. At the same time, as managers, we are in a job. We don't organise the competitions. 'Once we are here, we are proud. Many, many teams complain about these competitions because they are not here, otherwise they might love being here.' Weather problems have been a recurring issue in the tournament both in terms of intense heat and thunderstorms. Chelsea's last-16 victory over Benfica on Saturday was suspended for almost two hours due to lightning in the vicinity. Guardiola said: 'I am an extraordinary manager but to control lightning and thunder, still I am not good enough! 'If it is (suspended) here the same reason as why they suspend the other one, I will go inside and we will continue to be active and play again. 'It is not the ideal situation but I grew up to understand not to be worried about the situations that I can't control. So no problem.'
Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Tomos Williams ruled out of Lions tour in major setback
Elsewhere in the backline, Farrell reprises the wing combination of Tommy Freeman and Duhan van der Merwe, who started in the 28-24 loss to Argentina. In the centres, Ireland's Bundee Aki partners Huw Jones who makes his first start of the tour. In the front row, there are first starts for Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Will Stuart with Itoje partnering Ollie Chessum in an all English second row partnership. Jack Conan makes his first start in an athletic back row with Morgan and Curry. There are five English players on the bench - Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith - alongside three Irish players in Finlay Bealham, Garry Ringrose and James Ryan who could make his first appearance of the tour. It means the only players not to have featured so far are White and Blair Kinghorn, who won the Top 14 with Toulouse on Saturday and is joining the squad later on Monday. The Reds are set to provide a sterner examination of Farrell's side as they approach the three-Test series against Australia which begins on 19 July. 'We know each game on this Tour will be a step up from the game before and three more players are set to make their Lions debuts on Wednesday night, so congratulations to those guys,' Farrell said. Meanwhile, the Wallabies have released prop Taniela Tupou to join up with the New South Wales Waratahs who face the Lions on Saturday, indicating that the tighthead, nicknamed the Tongan Thor, is unlikely to be a part of Joe Schmidt's side for the Test series. Lions team to face the Queensland Reds 15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) 14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England) 13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) 12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) 11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) 10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland) 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) 1. Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) 2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) 3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England) 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (C) 5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England) 6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) 7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales) 8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) Replacements 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England) 17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/ England) 18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) 19. James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) 20. Ben Earl (Saracens/England) 21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England) 22. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England) 23. Garry Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
North Wales Chronicle
31 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Women's Euros forecast to boost UK economy with pubs hoping to serve more pints
Pubs being allowed to stay open later if England or Wales reach the final stages could also reel in more customers. The Uefa Women's Euro 2025 tournament kicks off in Switzerland on July 2, with England's Lionesses and Wales playing their first matches on Saturday July 5. Pubs are hoping to pull an additional 2.6 million extra pints during the tournament, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) found, based on an estimated increase in pub beer sales during matches compared with the annual daily average. The BBPA, whose members brew 90% of British beer and own nearly half of UK pubs, said this could deliver a £13 million boost to the economy. Furthermore, pubs could be allowed to stay open beyond their usual closing time if either of the two countries reach the semi-finals or final of the Euros, which will take place towards the end of July. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: 'The pub has forever been regarded as a home away from home, especially for sports fans, so it's no surprise that fans will be flocking to the pub to cheer on our brilliant teams.' However, Ms McClarkin renewed calls for the Government to 'level the playing field and reduce beer duty', with England and Wales paying the fourth-highest tax rate compared with other nations competing in the tournament, she said. Alcohol duty is paid by manufacturers when they make their products, and the duty is generally then passed on to consumers through prices. Duty on draught pints was cut by 1.7% earlier in the year – meaning a penny off a pint in the pub.
