Gordon's contract talks stall over £100k wage demand

I still think if that ghost bid of £60 million ever does materialize from Chelsea or whoever, then we need to consider taking it.

I wasn't overly convinced that Gordon was desperate to stay at Everton based on his lukewarm interview since the transfer didn't happen.

It all sounded more acceptance and that he didn't push to move but, if it had happened, he'd have been off quickly without hesitation.

It's sometimes forgotten that Anthony Gordon started out at Liverpool as a schoolboy also; I think many people believe he's a boyhood Evertonian like Rooney was.

He isn't, and while he may be comfortable to stay here for now, I think if £50 or £60 million comes about, it will be a more-than-amicable split.

If £60 million comes, take it quickly.

Over-rated with his head turned. Take the money if offered again.

Somehow, I think the offer may be lower next time.

Agree,

He is a work in progress, doesn't look up to pass to players in better positions, selfish, tends to go for his own goal and is a poor crosser of the ball – and finally impulsive in the tackle with 5 yellows already.

Bite the hand off anyone offering £60M.

Gordon is our 2022 McGeady.

Runs down Cul-de-sacs.

In Gray and Gordon, we have two similar players. They aren't the natural wingers that a centr- forward like Calvert-Lewin feeds off. That's why he worked well with Digne.

Both are players who like to cut in and go for it themselves but don't get their heads up to look for a better option when it's not on.

Individuals.

I suppose you can not blame whoever looks after him to get the best deal for both Gordon and them.

The report says the £100k reflects his transfer value (Was it £60 million?) – fucking absolute nuts.

However, the fact is, this player has done absolutely fuck all at Everton to ask for this type of money.

If true, Gordon will be on his way I would think.

Not even Chelsea would offer Gordon this type of money.

No doubting his potential… but will he fulfill it? He needs to start doing something on the fucking pitch!

Put it this way: neither Gray nor Gordon are Andrei Kanchelskis are they?

Kanchelskis was absolutely devastating and backed up his ability and pace with deadly shooting and goal-scoring.

Gray and Gordon are both decent enough but I've said it before, both very much one-trick ponies.

I'm not even sure that I class Gordon as the player that Gerard Deulofeu was at the same age of 21, I think Geri was a far more technically gifted footballer.

Kanchelskis. Possibly the last genuine top drawer signing we made.

Maybe Nigel Martyn, although we messed up not getting him first time around by offering him a hamper, as the urban myth goes.

That derby at Anfield. Sat amongst the unholy and being told I should support my own city by someone from Ireland. The irony!!

Danny,

Lukaku?

Good call Sean.

Sadly in my opinion at his best with Everton.

He never really progressed after that.

Danny @9,

Was that at the Andrei derby, with you sat amongst the devil's spawn or the Nigel Martyn derby at Anfield?

I remember big Nige having the game of his life there in January 2004.

Totalling 6 goals and 2 assist for the club. 100k/week?
Eh... I don't think so.
Maybee after a two complete seasons with 10 goals and 10 assists each season and proven end product.

Sorry, take what we can get and invest on players who want to be here.

He will be the next Ross Barkely or Jack Rodwell, a forlorn over-rated statistic for compliance with UEFA squad content. We do not need him.

So many young players have seen the bright lights and been caught up in agents' greed and quotas!

The club is always greater than the individual – especially a self-deluded wannabee!

£100k pw is a fair wage for Gordon – if he fulfills his potential in a few years time. Right now, he is still in the potential phase and we would be mad to pay him that kind of wage.

If Gray is on £42k then offer him that, subject to review. If he gets a combined 20 league goals and assists come May, he will have earned a raise.

An attacker with a goal or assist once every six games. Leave him on his current deal and Unsie will sign him when it expires.

To me, he had one good season in a poor team. He is quick but with not a lot of end product in either scoring or in goal assists.

The figure that was supposed to have been quoted was a lot more than he was worth and may have just been paper talk but, regardless of that, for that price, the club could benefit to buy as good if not better.

It annoys me that players who have been given chances from a junior age, suddenly when someone else starts making ridiculous offers, they start trying to hold the club to ransom.

This to me sounds like it's more from the low-life agent rather than the player, but the player should realize the amount of young players that have gone down the same path and failed to make it in another club.

He is not even a full international yet and his performances before his suspension hardly showed he was worth the figures quoted. Stay with the club and prove that you are worth the price both you and other clubs interested in you are worth the amounts quoted.

If true, I think he will be gone in January for around £40 million if that. Whilst he has talent, he flatters to deceive as yet and, until his performances bring the consistency of goals taken or created, then he is a victim of his own hype.

Simply put, he isn't good enough, yet. He might raise his game but right now he is not adding the quality we need, nor is he at the top of his game. His contract should be filled with bonus clauses dependent on performance. You think you're worth £100k? Prove it.

Danny #11, he scored 64 goals in two seasons at Inter and won a Serie A title.

Anthony Gordon could become a better player if he moved to a better team… but, then again, would Anthony Gordon get consistent game time in a better team?

Who would he replace at Chelsea or Spurs, for example, the two clubs who appear to be interested in him? Richarlison hasn't exactly set the world alight since he moved to Spurs, and he's a far better player than Anthony Gordon is.

So is it a Catch-22 for Everton? Do we cash in for a decent wedge, or keep him and hope he can improve and become the player we hope he can? He's certainly no Phil Foden, that's for sure.

Does anyone know how long he's got left on his current contract?

Need to watch he doesn't let it run down and go on a free!

Nick (23) yes just thought that, so Ic hecked his contract, he is here until June 2025, so two more seasons after this one.

Let him and his agent sweat the new contract out for now then offer him a new deal at the end of this season that will match any improvement between now and then.

I think he will have to up his game quite a bit on the form he has shown in his last three home games. He has been taken off early each time with his form going from bad to worse.

I always thought you had to earn an improved contract – not talk your way into one.

Saka is on £70,000 a week, 30% less than Gordon wants. He has 40 Premier League goals or assists to Gordon's 9.

He is 6 months younger than Anthony playing Champions League football for the table-toppers and an experienced international.

Surely these kind of wages have to be earned!

I agree, Kieran, we are relegation candidates – not a Champions League club.

Gordon is not worth half what he wants, if Chelsea come back in January, I’d say go and get your £100,000 a week there.

Well, going on Dave's info, there's no rush to improve his contract. As others have suggested, let's see what he does between now and the end of the season.

If he hasn't "earned" an improvement, then cash in during the summer transfer window.

His proposed transfer and previous contract negotiations were mismanaged. The result is inflated expectations and a player who realises he is only a number to those that run Everton. His performances on the pitch have suffered as a result, which isn't a surprise.

Kieran @23,

Saka is a million miles from the player Gordon is, I agree, he influences games.

Mason Mount is a much better player than Gordon is.

If Gordon had gone to Chelsea, he would have been Barkley number 2.

Joe,

Exactly... and Saka is literally working harder as he's playing real Champions League games each week while Anthony Gordon is in his sofa, playing it on FIFA.

Mason Mount is another one – he's on £75k a week also (a lot less than Gordon wants) and he already has a Champions League winners medal.

Gordon has completely lost the plot. He's got a long way to go to be at the level of Albrighton – much less a £100k-a-week player.

Anthony Gordon, in my book, is potential, and a work in progress, with a big focus on his end product in scoring goals and delivering good crosses from live play and dead balls, decision-making, consistently.

At the moment, he's not worthy of such a contract and he has to earn that right.

Form is, as they say, temporary, and class is permanent, and Anthony has a long way to go before he's a top-class footballer.

Some months back, I watched an interview with Declan Rice, walking around his old neighbourhood, recounting tales of going to the match as a young supporter, telling of his dreams, said all the right (ie, expected) things.

Today we read, he's rejecting a £200k per week deal across an 8-year contract. So, a bare minimum after 8 years, basic without bonuses, outside personal endorsements etc. and without tax/investment trickery, of around £30 million net – while playing for the "dream" club in your heart – is not enough.

Nothing means anything anymore, except the money. I'm not sure those earning it even understand why they want so much now.

Good point, Will, I saw that article too on BBC Sport.

It's chilling how much the players earn these days, and in view of the bad state of the UK, and global economy.

Let's hope that Gordon and his advisors get a real perspective on his playing ability at this time.

Paul, that's a big hope.

Will #31.

Reminded me of the lyrics of a song from one of my fave '80s bands, Immaculate Fools:

Everything – Everything is measured in money.
Nothing – Nothing means nothing any more.

Paul, years ago, talk and lyrics like that were sometimes considered lefty resentful and bitter. A bit different now.

The aspects are the same, it's the sheer extent that's the problem, it's gone bananas.

Michael K,

I had Oxford English forced into me, which dictated all numbers below 10 be written in word form. If you prefer it the other way then say, and I'll change it to save you editing.

p.s. just noticed you prefer full expletives, so I'll get on board with that fucking shite too.

Get rid of him. He is a developing young player and years away from the finished article.

On the balance of probability, £60M and £100k per week are totally ridiculous. He is also now a poisoned apple in the barrel.

Michael K, let's see Wills post before it was edited

Billy, thanks, it's no big deal. I just write numbers, like one instead of 1, and Michael changed them.

The other thing, I was too delicate with my swearing. I usually only go at it on the Live Forum.

Will 39, you will be getting asked to stand in the corner with your hands on your head next.

Billy, I'm a very naughty boy... feel terrible now. Lesson learned, Sir.

Gordon's head is truly up his own arse. Get rid. Shown sweet fuck-all on the pitch so far this season, I'm never upset not seeing him in the team. £100k, he really thinks he is George Best in the making lol. When more like Preki

Preki :-)

It's appalling how quickly and easily a player's head (via their agents and personal management teams) is turned.

Gordon is a talented young player, he has potential, but he also lacks the most important element – end product. He hasn't yet shown that can influence games in a consistent manner.

Hopefully this is just noise and the lad can focus himself on improving and making a serious contribution to this season. He should be aiming for at least 15 goal contributions for the season.

For fuck's sake, everyone give their head a shake,

Put yourself in the player's boots, why in the fuck would you play for £50k pw when you can get £100k pw? Loyalty is a myth nowadays, Sky destroyed that.

If you're at your job and another company would double or treble your wages, even though you've been there for 10 years and all your mates work with you, but you have to look after yourself, there's nothing wrong with that.

I hope Anthony gets at least his £100k a week and scores 20 to 25 goals for us and becomes a great player. We have to pay the going rate on young promising players, then sell his ass when he's 25, for £90M.

I want Everton on top, this season is all about getting re-established, getting on solid ground. I really think the players and structure is there. I said we'd be about 10th to 12th til the New Year then kick on.

I'm in trust with Lampard & Co. We're on the right track, patience is required but, for fuck's sake, Onana and Gray when, you're in that close, all you need is a deft touch – not a killer shot... arrgghh!

COYB, let's bring Bainsey out of retirement to take our free-kicks on Wednesday...

Will,

The numbers thing can be tricky. The Style Guide says you should use figures and symbols for percentages, measurements and currency.

The case in point was "eight-year contract" which I changed to "8-year contract", as 'year' is a measurement of time. But I'm accused of being too literal, and many simply do not follow this one.

The guide appears to be silent on 'disguised' expletives; personally I think it's a disingenuous copout. It's like you're pretending to swear but not really because you changed some letters or used asterisks. Yet the intent is there. So I'm encouraging honesty and transparency... or perhaps discouraging those who think they are not swearing because they don't want to be seen to be doing so... when really they are.

One of the people who need to give their a head shake!

Don't you think there have been enough fuck ups with over paying players based on reputation and apparent quality - right now Gordon falls into this category.

At the start of the season I was all for keeping Gordon despite the reported big bid from Chelsea, he is a threat sometimes and we certainly need that, but he doesn't do enough and hasn't got the fucking energy to last 90 minutes most of the time.

As I said in my earlier post, can't blame the agent for asking, but I would hope a polite fuck off was, or will be the answer.

He is worth no where near the figure that was being branded about in the media and right now I would say his career could take a turn for the worse unless he starts performing.

Michael,

can't say I'm familiar with The Style Guide but if that's what you refer to, I'll look at in future if necessary.

Numbers as I know it, currency, maths, statistics, dimensions. Not to say you can't use it in other ways but not default practice. You also don't need a hyphen in there, in that sentence structure - but we can go on forever. Much of it today is diluted anyway.

There's certainly no disingenuous cop-out here, that's nuts. I don't offend easily at anything, but then maybe I'm low class. Some don't like the brash swearing though so I tone it down when I do it, intent still visible. The Live Form is a different animal.

"Funny old world": no txt speak, no case errors, can say twat and arsehole :-) But I do know where you're coming from with some of it.

I'll just carry on as before then but will change the numbers, saves you some work.

45????? You been sniffing drainpipes with that post???????

Kieran #45,

Its that kind of thinking that got us in the mess we are in.

Gordon has shown nothing but potential and certainly has not continued his progress this season.

The lad that was constantly seeking advice on how to improve has suddenly become "Billy Big Bollocks" after a "rumoured bid of £45M by Chelsea and a claim that they were willing to go to £60M.

I can’t see Graham Potter being remotely interested. He had far better players at Brighton.

More like Billy the Fish, Jay.

Kieran @45,

The “going rate” you reference is not £100k a week for someone like Gordon. As I said earlier, stars-wise Saka is four times better (Premier League only) and on £70k. So by that measure, Goron is right on the money with his current £20k a week.

As for Chelsea, Frank said they never offered £60M. The more reliable press said £30M and it was from Boehly the owner between managers who, with his minimal knowledge of football, thought Gordon could be a back-up for Reece James.

As Jay points out, Potter is there now so there's no way in hell he's stupid enough to pay even £30M for a guy who at this point in his career has worse stats than Danny Cadamarteri — mind he was a few years younger even.

Jim Bennings, it was the Kanchelski one around 97 (without looking), when he scored 2. One was a deflection if I recall. I hope I got my numbers convention correct there, MK!!

Mike Gaynes, if anyone was going to correct me, it would be you. Always in the politest manner. I guess the point I didn't really add much context to, was that I never thought Lukaku realised the potential he actually had once he left Everton.

Rob Halligan @20 makes the best and most sensible assessment of Anthony Gordon as to where he is in his career in my view.

I enjoyed watching Gordon rise and shine last season. Okay, we can give him the break of having the young player dip that happened to even to the best of them.

But my concern is one that some of those who watched him earlier in his career expressed, before he broke into the first team. His attitude and work rate. Has his rise and the external interest taken him back to that? Does he now think he's bigger than Everton and the players around him? Just when we're building real spirit in the team? Does he not think he has to work as hard or is it just a dip in form and he's tired? As could be expected for a young player who's played a lot of football.

I don't know and I hope not. I'd love to see him succeed in a successful Everton team. But he needs to want to do it. Hopefully he will be managed appropriately.

The club have made previous mistakes paying top wages to average players. The agents and players and coaches are sucking the clubs dry.

Anthony Gordon is not at that level yet. Let him prove that he is worthy of such high wages by skinning defenders and either putting in accurate crosses or scoring goals and then we can sit down and reward him.

Just because Chelsea were (supposedly) willing to pay over the odds for potential does not mean we should pay that kind of wage.

Gordon needs to concentrate on his game.

There's a lot of truth about what Kieran@45 posts wether we like it or not. No footballer is worth that amount, especially a young player who has had a reasonably good few months, but if Chelsea were prepared to pay £30 million, he's an asset to Everton Football Club, and this is just the way the game has sadly gone.

£5.2 million a year, for one young talented footballer, whilst most clubs in Leagues One and Two struggle along, the funeral pyre has already reached football, but the over-saturation obviously appeals to the masses.

I agree with many of the posters who feel we should not be paying him this sort of money. Those days are gone, giving out contracts like that nearly broke us. I love Anthony and want him desperately to succeed with us.

However, if his attitude has been affected by the Chelsea bid or what he feels is a low contract offer, then I am okay with us letting him go for anything north of £40M. We need committed players who are focussed on the project.

£100K plus contracts for a team like ours in the stage of transition we are in currently, should be reserved only for consistent top performers for the team. I would offer half that and say to him "if you perform consistently as one of the best we will reward you accordingly by ripping this up and handing you another, earn it young man".

I recently read one regular Gordon basher claim Gordon gets a free ride because he is a scouser and he "gets Everton".

The post really annoyed me on two counts: 1) because it was an insult to Scousers to suggest their judgement can be so easily clouded; and 2) because it' shows little knowledge of this club.

We are brutal with our developing youngsters. Brutal to the point where it can only be detrimental to said development. The harshness doesn't stop at the match. You don't have to leave this thread to see that.

Those claiming he is getting too big for his boots need to ask themselves if they really believe 21-year-old apprentice is making the demands. They need to consider the fact that hard-nosed agents who wouldn't know a decent player if the saw one only conduct their negotiations from a financial point of view. We were offered mega bucks for Gordon just weeks ago. No agent worth his salt would ignore that fact and not use it as leverage.

The only reports I can find about Saka earning £70k seem to come from the Mail and the Sun. Other reports suggest his new contract will be twice what Gordon's team are asking for.

Those who predict a slow demise similar to Barkley's are just guessing,

Those who say he is not good enough would do well to ask themselves why the big boys would come calling. More to the point, why a management team who see his burgeoning talent every day of the week. fought so hard to resist a staggering amount of money to keep him.

I dislike greedy agents as much as the next man, but please, a bit of perspective. Last season, this club paid around £30M for the "services" of Mina, Doucoure, Allan, Gomes, Gbamin, Delph, Alli and Toson. Personally I wouldn't have paid £30. Let's not forget their astronomical transfers fees either. Gordon, who led the fight against the dreaded drop, cost nothing and gets around £10k a week."Make them earn it"???. Pity that rule doesn't apply to all.

Once a guy has broken into the first team, he is there to be shot at. It comes with the territory, but please, stick to the facts. Let's not go down the spiteful route of comparing him to other isolated cases, or demanding we "Get rid of him" because he is "a poisoned apple in the barrel".

The kid hasn't opened his fucking mouth!

Everton fans don't accept anything less than 100% effort and worship those who consistently give 110%.

Last season, Gordon gave everything, he was everywhere in the pitch, making tackles on the edge of his own area and appearing on the edge of the opposition box a few seconds later.

This season, I've lost count of the number of times an opposition full-back has ran past Gordon while he's walked or jogged back. If it's a manager instruction, then I think Frank has got it wrong; if it's Gordon - then that 110% effort has dropped below 100%, and he'll have the fan base on his back before he knows it.

We won't get £60M for him again on current form, and he won't get an offer like Chelsea's again on current form.

If Gordon wants £100k a week, he needs to be the player he was last season who never gave up and never stopped running, not the player who casually jogs while they're full back is overlapping ours.

The Premier League and Sky with their money have taken the passion from football and made it all about money. Between them, they have ruined the game.

Kevin, give me Bukayo Saka on his £70k a week. Similar age and scores also, currently for the team top of the Premier League.

If we really did turn down £60 million for Gordon, it was madness not to accept.

Dave (57), yes of course it's Anthony's agent who is doing his job and trying to get the best deal for his man. Unfortunately for the agent and Anthony, this is now, not when other people were handing out those ridiculous contracts that we are still suffering and paying for.

Anthony played his part last season with the way he played in those run-up games, wholeheartedly, for 70 minutes, when his energy evaporated. It was Mr Benitez (remember him?) who took Anthony to one side and encouraged and praised him. But he also pointed out he couldn't last more than an hour in a game after taking him off at Old Trafford around that mark, even though he was playing well.

Anthony has a talent and big potential and he has improved his work rate since I first saw him in the Everton youth team. It's a talent that could get you off your seat with an outstanding dribble and a goal… then leave you wondering where he had gone for long stretches of games.

This season, he started where he finished last season, playing well and scoring a couple of well-taken goals but also making some cowardly tackles which rightly earned bookings – where did that part of his game materialise from?

He has gone off the boil in the last few weeks and is definitely not putting the workrate in that he showed last season and the beginning of this. My own theory is that he's played too much football since the beginning of January without hardly a break, playing for Everton and England U21s, and the small break in the Summer was not enough for him.

I don't want to believe he has suddenly decided he's too big to play for Everton and wants out. I don't know the lad but that attitude doesn't fit into his previous behaviour playing for the club and showing how much he enjoyed being part of the club, going over to the fans, even after bad defeats away from home, and clapping them showing his appreciation for their support.

I think he hasn't done enough to have earned, in his very short Everton first-team career, for his agent to ask for this type of wage, but no harm in asking and no harm in Mr Thelwell refusing to give in to those demands.

Have a good rest, Anthony, and a good think, with your agent, as to where your career is going. Then get it back on track by proving you can perform at a high level, consistently. Then you will get the wages your agent is asking for… it's down to you, mate!!

Chelsea never bid £60 million for Gordon. Do you really think if they did, we wouldn't have accepted it?

Dave

You make some very fair points about AG. Particularly about his tackling. He makes Paul Scholes look like Bobby Moore.

It's the foolish nonsense peddled by determined detractors that I'm calling out.
I suspect you wouldn't touch the Sun if you were paid to read it, me neither, but I have no objection to people believing what they read in it. The thing is, Saka's Contract runs out next season. His team are in negotiations too and anybody who thinks his agents will settle for 70k a week is living in Lala land.
BTW. Saka plays with magnificent attackers and midfield players. Gordon has spent most of his career trying to play with players like Gomes, Rondon. We'll see how good he is when we get better players in

I'm not interested in trumped up isolated examples, nor do I agree that there has been a dramatic drop off in Gordon's form. It's only six weeks since we were lauding his form at Brentford and Leeds. A spell off sick and a suspension hasn't left him time to fall down as dramatically as some are claiming.

Twenty one year old has a dip in form for two matches. Outragious. What short memories we have

Last paragraph says what I think, Dave Cashew. An expected dip in form from a young player who has played a lot of football.

In different circumstances we might have been able to introduce him more gradually, but had to throw him into the Lion's Den.

Paul Scholes and tackles!! There's one from the memory bank. Great player but tackles?

I hope and think the management team are managing Anthony. I think, if we'd have wanted to sell, it would have been in the summer.

But, like most, I don't really know and can only guess.

Dave (63),

Yes, fair enough, there has to be a balance about the lad and how he plays and also the calibre of the players he is and has played with.

I'd add that all the forwards and midfield players spend a lot more time defending than attacking while Lampard tries to sort his plans out to improve our performances, slowly but surely, hopefully.

The state of the world right now and a youngster who has far from earned his spurs wants a £100k pw.

Seriously, Anthony (and Anthony's agent) — get a grip.

The newspapers claiming that Arsenal will sign Saka on a new deal for £70k are as wide of the mark as those that claimed Chelsea bid £60M for Anthony. File under hack fiction. Saka will go for closer to £200k than £100k when he signs a new contract.

A player is worth whatever fee and salary a club are willing (or able) to pay for him. That is the reason why Everton should not offer a salary of £100k a week to Anthony. We must learn the lessons of the last 7 years and focus on sustainable growth.

Anthony has potential but a longer development path ahead of him to become a top player, and he is under contract until 2025. Obviously his agent has been getting in his head given he mentioned making the England squad for the World Cup. Given there is zero possibility of that happening, the tournament will give him time to take a rest, which he looks like he needs.

We need to approach this logically which seems to be how Thelwell works. The only possible reason to consider a higher salary for the lad is to tie him down to a longer contract with a huge release clause – but really, will any club offer it?

I think Anthony Gordon needs to consolidate and improve with us for another 18 months or so.

I fear he could tread the path that Cademateri, Jeffers, Rodwell and Barkley chose.

The media were probably way off the mark when they said Chelsea offered £60M for Gordon. They are probably just as misguided in saying Gordon is now demanding £100k per week.

It's a tricky balance for Everton in trying to extend or renew his contract to protect the value of their asset, while not over-paying on wages.

Anthony Gordon is nowhere near the player he or his agent thinks he is.

I hate that word 'potential', there's plenty of players around his age who are performing to a high standard most weeks and not waiting for their potential to be realised.

Yes, he has run around like a scalded cat with regards to effort but we'd all do that given chance to play for our club.

Get the goals, get the assists and the MotM awards on a regular basis and let's talk about £100k a week then.

Perhaps it was Anthony's agent who started the £100k pw rumour.

Let's face it. It's easy to look good in this Everton squad. Score a couple of goals and you're the Messiah.

Any improved contract for Gordon should be performance-related, linked to assists and goals. If he thinks he's that good, then let him prove he's worth more.

It would be good for him to be incentivised. We have enough promising wasters on a King's ransom.

Darren Cashen is missing the point about Saka's wages. It doesn't matter what he might earn – right now, he's earning £70k after four seasons of playing pretty regularly and well for Arsenal. Gordon wants more than that after one season trying hard for Everton.

As for the “It's not him, it's his agent.” Give me a break. There is no law requiring him to have an agent. He, like every player, decides to hire one. If the agent is making outrageous demands, the player has the right to fire the agent.

Tony Hibbert didn't even have an agent. That was his choice and he was a local homegrown true blue like Gordon, Jeffers etc. He never played the victim card:

“Oh, Mr Moyes, my greedy agent wants me to be paid more than Gary Neville… What can I do?”

A couple of seasons ago, he was on loan to Preston North End — a quite unspectacular part of his career, warming their bench.

He came back, spent the off-season with a personal trainer to get himself as strong and fit as possible. He impressed Carlo and Benitez but he is way off being a £100k-a-week footballer.

I know money in football is thrown about like confetti and Moshiri has taken confetti to a new level; his house must look like a Mcdonald's car park at 2 am on a Saturday and Sunday morning.

When I was his age, I could run round all day to earn my £20 a week.

I remember reading an article years ago when we had taken a punt on Slaven Bilic. A very good player and defender in his day and big name in the game at the time. But frustratingly always injured.

Probably not too different from Mina.

Okay, it was probably a dramatic article, but called it out as Everton's last roll of the dice to become a big club. That dice is still rolling. It hasn't settled and we're not going away.

But it made a very good point. It isn't the signing-on fee that cripples clubs. It's the wages over long contracts.

I'd love Anthony Gordon to stay at Everton, but we need to do the maths. We should know better than most in that respect.

I just really don't think it's an issue. Gordon is signed through June 2025. The player has no additional leverage and the club has no additional money.

Kieran,

Some good posts by yourself.

When you look at other players around the same age, it really shows £100k pw is far too much.

Out of interest, does anybody know who the top earner is at the club and how much they earn?

Sean,

I think it's Gomes on £120k pw.

Danny,

At the time, Bilic was voted best player at the World Cup for Croatia at least and then as you say injuries dictated his time with us.

As for Gordon, he's a year or so too late for any blue gravy train. I'm sure we have learnt our lesson. Moderate wage for a very moderate player… end of.

Kieran Kinsella,

If you are going to quote reports from the Sun, you should at least read them properly.

Saka is on nowhere near £70k. He gets less than half that (although he still gets more than Gordon). Neither player has publicly spoken about proposed contracts. Neither have their clubs. The figures quoted for both players are pure speculation.

Gordon has said nothing, but if you want to use speculation as a stick to beat him with, crack on.

A few weeks ago, we had a bid of £40M for him. That makes him a major asset, Whether you think he's worth £10k or £100k pw is neither here nor there.

We are no different to any other club, We have a choice. We either cash in on our asset or we protect it. We chose not to cash in.
Now we have to sit down with The devil (his agent). We can tell him to fuck off, of course, but we then risk watching The Ross Barkley movie all over again.

The reason players employ agents is to look after their finances. Not their game. You do know that?

BTW. Around about the time you were buying into reports that Saka's agents had accepted £70k pw for their man, you could have flipped to the front page and the same paper was proclaiming Liz and Kwasi as the dream team.

I don't get the fuss about him, I really don't.

Maybe it's why Tuchel got the boot at Chelsea; someone probably said to the owner "Tuchie boy has gone Tonto, looking to pay top dollar for this kid."

He's done next to nothing.

You reap what you sow. If we say Gordon is worth £60M, it is a fair point he's also worth £100k pw wages.

But he isn't worth £100k, or anywhere near, which is why we should've cashed in. Now our bluff is being called.

Kieran,

That just about sums us up, I suppose.

Mark,

Sadly you're probably right. That is just the kind of tenuous logic that I can imagine an agent might use.

What a mess it all is.

“Risk the Ross Barkley move all over again.”

Erm, yeah, we missed out there, didn't we? Should be in his prime and couldn't find an Premier League club. Also, he had 6 months left on his contract when he left. Gordon has almost 3 years.

Lastly, you quote as fact the £40 million bid but dismiss as conjecture wages. Pretty sure all such figures come from the same source: the media.

Oh and it was The Sun that picked up the Gordon story two days before The Echo et al, Casho.

Looks like Thelwell gets a test of his mettle here. This is delicate and to some extent the market (ahem) has spoken.

Only Thelwell knows if the talk around £60M was for real and what that would imply for wage structure if he chose to appease Gordon. On other hand, Mike is well-focused on the terms which really don't permit a lot of posturing while Frank has business he wants done on the pitch.

Thelwell might do well to have a sit down and make some commitments and then see if Gordon can hit the benchmarks that will keep those a reasonable concession to a lad who could make a difference here when we most need it. It does look like he'll be moving on but it will be on our terms.

Only at Everton are the local boys the bad apples, demanding moves and throwing their toys out of the pram. How can this be? He should be the backbone of the team.

It's situations like this that can turn you off football. What is the point, when the dyed-in-the-wool Evertonians are rinsing you worst of all?

Yes, Dale, the market rules. It even eats its admirers – oh the irony.

Again the point sales over your head, KK.

The Barkley movie has nothing to do with Ross Barkleys Career, or his ability.

The Barkley movie is the one where we wouldn't sit down with The devil. He and Barkley simply shrugged their shoulders and spent the next two years running down the contract, The club, had to let him go for a fraction of what we should have got.

The club did not protect its asset

Oh and don't try selling me the Sun. Besides the obvious, Getting a story before the Echo doesn't quite cut it for me.

Brent, your kwasi-sensitivity brightens my day.

Sean @78, Kieran @79,

Mina is the top earner on £120K. Gomes is on £112K.

Everton Payroll at Spotrac

Kevin,

I feel you there. Today though, discussion of keeping hold of, or loyalty from, local lads coming up through the ranks, will often be met by the angles of, he deserves to do the best for his family, deserves a chance at honours, too good for this team, needs better players around him, and the like... from the fans themselves.

This is just what the game has become, or I might say, been actively morphed into. Not that we can do much about it but I don't like to have to acknowledge it. Maybe we're the out-of-date ones now, and should just look at them as pure, cold assets. Maybe then we'll see the hypocritical love for the club stuff fade away.

Foden at Man City has just been given a more rewarding contract. Quite local, always supported them, and been there all his playing life. Seems overjoyed from the words quoted. Should he ever leave, though, in say 3 or 4 years by choice – then what did it all mean?

Kieran, @73, a very good point.

Anthony Gordon is still very much a work in progress.

On his return to duty, let's hope he can improve his game, find consistency, end product, good decision-making, crossing, free-kicks, more goals, and at the end of this season, let the club decide.

Right now, if true then he's seeing a mirage of what he may think he is as a player and worth to Everton.

Evertonians know their football; Anthony Gordon, and maybe his agent, will also know that they can't take the piss.

Let's see how the next weeks and months transpire.

Starting on Wednesday and beating the Skunks.

UTFTs!

Will,

We seem particularly unfortunate though. Who would have thought scousers would be the biggest greedy turncoats? But Rooney, Barkley, and now seemingly Gordon are all desperate to get the hell out and to hell with the consequences.

Meanwhile, even little West Ham have stalwarts like Mark Noble, and keep hold of Declan Rice for years longer than we would have done.

Dale, a laffer minute, mate.

Kevin,

Days of yore, long gone. Jeffers too. There is so much opportunity for them now, that I think loyalty is probably all but impossible. Regrettable but the way it is. It might help if some players would cease to overrate themselves, and stop with the club love stuff (not overly hitting Gordon for that one). Of course, the agents are a big part of it.

Seems Rice might be feeling the strings of his heart being severed about now.

Clive #93, you beat me to it.

However, the Spotrac info may be outdated... it was widely reported that the personal terms for Tarkowski's signing included a contract through June 2026 at £120,000/week.

Clive

Looking at those figures (adding in Gomes, who's not listed) only one of our 7 highest-paid players is a first-team regular. It would have only one of the Top 10 towards the end of last season with Delph, Allan and Sigurdsson at the club. Sad reminder of why we are walking the FFP tightrope.

Okay, 2 of 8 per Mike's remark... but still.

Thanks, Clive,

The only one near the top end earning his wages seems to be Pickford then.

Mike,

Would I be right to assume the high wages would be because there was no transfer fee? At least he gets on the pitch and does the job he is getting paid for,so I guess he deserves it.

Like it or not, we have several players who simply aren't good enough to hold down a regular spot. But the truth is, they are all we have; both Gray and Gordon fall squarely into this category. Whilst both are capable of changing a game, both are still limited in terms of actually doing so.

Gray's limited arsenal consists of losing the ball time and time again because he never looks up, or he cuts inside looking to shoot with his right peg... it's easy to see why teams eventually let him go; so will Everton.

Gordon has the speed to get past just about any defender; when he does, it still rarely ends up as a goal. Other than his speed, his other contribution is defensive, chasing back, but even this is limited.

In any other top-flight teams, both would not hold down a regular place. We are making do with both of them.

As for the rest:

Maupay is a make-do until Calvert-Lewin is fit, a short-term buy, I hope!

Gana – I thought, after the first few games, he was a valuable cog in the rebuilding of the team. But the last couple of games has seen his contribution drop alarmingly...

Patterson is a rough diamond, unpolished and yet, beneath the youth is a good player.

Coady and Tarkowski together have provided a spine so long missed but, without Calvert-Lewin up front, it's all rather academic playing wingers. We need better players that allow tactical changes.

Currently, we have a mid-table squad... the only encouraging thing is Lampard himself. He knows the issues and is making do... but he must know he needs more quality.

Good assessment, Christine.

We are playing with wide players who aren't wingers. Tricky players played on their wrong side who naturally like to cut in and go for goal themselves. Only they don't score that often.

Gueye adds a bit of steel, Onana is going to develop, but we still lack creativity in midfield.

The defence has become more solid but, if they are under constant attack, it doesn't matter how good they are. Law of averages.

We've improved. The games are closer. But still work to do. Baby steps as they say. We'll get there.

Kieran, 100, Gomes is below in the loaned players salaries.

Mike, 99, that sounds about right for Tarkowski.

Think the wage demand comes from what some of his past team mates were earning (too many to name in the last five years) for doing nothing.

Probably why Anthony and his agents think this is worth trying their luck with…

The problem here seems to be all the speculation has affected Gordon's work rate on the pitch, apart from those first few games. His situation then was that it was still possible that he might be moving to Chelsea, so he definitely put extra effort in. Since the transfer window shut his efforts for the team have shut down too.

He needs to forget about moving now that's gone, knuckle down and put in 100% in every game to justify his place in the team and prove his worth.

The question is: Will he? Or has his head been turned so much by his agent that he just can't be arsed? His attitude has to change — and quick!

Currently no Everton player deserves to be on £100k per week. I understand he could easily get it elsewhere but tough. He signed a contract not long ago.

Either sign on more realistic terms or sell for £80M. I'm not sure who our highest earner is but we can't start at £100k for potential.

I like him, happy to give him a huge pay rise upto £60k-ish and big bonus for goals, assists, wins, trophies etc.

Everton have done well in reducing the wage bill over the summer. We can't now destabilise the wage structure for anyone.

I believe he could become a top player; I also think he could flop and lose focus. £80M could be very useful to bring in more proven, motivated, mature players.

But for this season, I just want him to stay focused and help Everton win a cup!

Ross Barkley Mk II. I'd sell him. He is not as good as he thinks he is!

Want to see a lot more from Gordon for that kind of money. More, goals more crosses, more assists. Currently his contribution is no more than that of Gray or McNeill and I doubt either of them are on £100,000 a week.

Barclay was a far far better player at 21 than Gordon is. Gordon has had half a decent season and if this is true about wanting 100k a week he is taking the piss, as others have said produce first with assist’s and goals over a season or 2 then look for the contract improvement. Personally I couldn’t give a toss if he left, if he thinks Chelsea are gonna come back for him he’s in for some disappointment

On recent form, Anthony is nowhere near worth £100k per week. I would postpone further talks until such time as he starts to demonstrate he is worthy of a place in our starting line-up.

He is still learning but he has a long way to go before he should be thinking of such an inflated salary.

Just sell the overrated idiot.

If we can get anywhere near what has been bandied around, we would be foolish not to take it, the boy is a charlatan.

I haven't logged in for months because anything more than watching Everton was put in my "avoid for mental health reasons" basket, and even that was probably poor judgment. I've logged back in cos this Gordon business just makes me so angry.

All through the summer, whenever I saw I headline about Chelsea offering £XXM for him, I just hoped we'd accept, and scrolled on by to whatever English bulldog or Seinfeld meme account was sure to come next in the feed.

This just has the Barkley situation written all over it, only worse. Barkley was our ticket out of this dump, and ended up going for less than £20M. Gordon will eventually go for similar 2023 standard money. The difference being Barkley actually made us a better side while he played for us. Gordon's one of the most overrated players in my memory.

If he wants $100k/week, he should become a hip-hop artist cos he shouldn't be making that as a footballer.

I watched a lower league game on Tuesday night, then I watched Everton on Wednesday night, and I know which one I enjoyed better, even though the players were nowhere near as talented.

I heard Gordon's agent was telling a few porkies about Chelsea. He's obviously looking after his client, but he would be advised to look after him a lot more, by telling him that football is all about hard work, especially if you are trying to get him a massively improved contract.

Very interesting discussion here and, to me, an unsurprising amount of criticism about Gordon. He is ordinary, maybe with potential which is yet to be fulfilled or maybe not.

I most certainly will join those who have strongly advocated that Gordon needs to show more end product, much more and consistently, to warrant any improvement in his contract.

Like almost all young aspiring footballers, money has become his God. Money has become the devil of football and in the fullness of time we will all regret it.

The answer to Anthony and others with similar demands is "Earn it and them ask."

Long game by Chelsea this:

Ghost bid £60M.
Player overrates himself, demands more wages.
Doesn't get them, head drops.
Chelsea come in later with a lower bid.
Player wants to leave.

He ain't worth £10 grand a week.

We need consistency from all our so-called "Star" players.

Unfortunately Gordon seems to be a one-trick pony at this time. Now, if he could learn to utilize that trick for the team, and learn some more tricks, that would be nice!

Roman @114; "The difference being Barkley actually made us a better side while he played for us." Prior to his injury, not too sure on that too be honest. But he did make Chelsea a worse side and Villa, probably Nice as well.

I'm afraid, as I said earlier, that money is what it is all about these days. If it hasn't already done so, which I suspect is already the case, then it is well on its way to do so.

All the talk of Gordon not being worth this or that much is frankly immaterial whatever we, as fans, may think. It is up to each individual club to decide what a player is worth and pay them accordingly based on nothing at all other than what may turn out to be a whim! We can't however indulge in whim of this nature anymore.

Players and agents quite rightly will try to get the most favourable deals, irrespective of how well things are going. If the club doesn't agree, it is up to them to say "Bog off" in as polite a way as is prudent. In the case of Gordon, I don't think there is any need to be too prudent if the current performances are laid out in explanation of the refusal.

Everton have made some horrendous decisions in the past, the consequences of which have caused them some of the problems they are still recovering from. They must start putting an end to yesterday's madness sometime, mustn't they?

There are a number of typos in my previous post which I wasn't able to correct in the time available. Apologies.

I like Gordon, but he's a long, LONG way from the finished article.
Richarlison was twice the player he is in terms of value to the team and so if we get £60M (and could invest that even semi sensibly - a BIG If) then I'd take the money and move on.