Liverpool and Everton will have radically distinct 2024 summer transfer windows.
For once, Everton has continuity in the dugout thanks to Sean Dyche, who has been in charge for over a year, even if there is no clear understanding of ownership and off-field affairs.
Liverpool is entering a new era, with Jurgen Klopp leaving and Arne Slot taking over as manager on June 1.
It will be intriguing to see how much the Reds spend and how much they support Slot, particularly if big players like Mohamed Salah go.
The same cannot be said for Everton. While their competitors can afford to keep their huge names and turn down any bids, their neighbours are unlikely to have the same luxury.
That dreaded profit and sustainability is biting several teams where the sun doesn’t shine, including the Toffees.
It has prompted the question of who will depart Goodison Park this summer, with players from the left, right, and center being proposed for transfer.
But one individual Alan Pardew mentioned was Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been linked with a move to Newcastle United.
The former Premier League manager believes the 27-year-old could play for ‘any team’ in the Premier League, including Liverpool, as he told talkSPORT (02/06/24 at 8:40 pm).
Pardew believes that if Calvert-Lewin played up front for Slot, he would ‘produce’, with his main difficulty, and the most serious one, being his inability to keep out of the treatment room.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin in Liverpool
“I think every Premier League manager would take him,” Pardew stated. “Whether you can persuade your owner to say, ‘Okay, I’ll pay the £40 million or the £45 million,’ whatever he is, it will be less than that given his injuries.
“Chairmen don’t want to sign a player who will only play ten games, but those ten games could be really important to a manager and save his career. He could save you in the league. He could win you a cup. He can get you into Europe. When he is at his best, he can make a difference. He was outstanding against Liverpool in his final few games. When he is fit, he can perform at a level that few other players can. The difficulty, of course, is his unavailability, which is a source of concern for him.
“Realistically, he could play for any team.” I truly believe that. Even in Liverpool. At times, you could put him at centre-forward and be confident that he would deliver.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, next season
On paper, Calvert-Lewin had a forgettable season in 2023/24, scoring only seven Premier League goals and enduring a long drought; his highlight was scoring against Liverpool.
However, this is the first time in several years that he has played more than 2,000 Premier League minutes. The last time he accomplished it, he scored 16 goals and was named to England’s Euro 2020 squad.
That’s three seasons of injuries, a lack of playing time, confidence, sharpness, and timing. He just got it back this season.
However, you believe his goals and overall game can only improve next season if he can stay fit and play 2,000+ minutes again.
