Newcastle United given chance to sign 71-goal striker after contract bombshell
Dominic Calvert-Lewin will leave Everton as it stands after David Moyes confirmed there is no contract offer on the table.
The 28-year-old, who has been heavily linked with Newcastle United during the previous two summer transfer windows, is set to become a free agent with his contract expiring on June 30.
Calvert-Lewin has scored 71 goals in 270 appearances for the Toffees and in that time has been capped 11 times by England. However, injuries have plagued his career in recent years.
Moyes succeeded Sean Dyche as Everton manager in January. Calvert-Lewin featured in Moyes’ opening three games but a hamstring injury ruled him out for three months before making his return in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin set to leave Everton - as it stands
Everton had previously been in talks over extending Calvert-Lewin’s contract but speaking ahead of the striker’s comeback last week, Moyes revealed that is no longer the case.
Moyes said: “I think the way the team’s playing, the goals we are scoring, the chances we are making will give Dom a lot of hope. He wants to try to work his way back to the top again.
“By doing that, he needs to score goals and assists. He is part of that group of players coming out of contract who we'll discuss with and see how things do in the coming weeks.
“All I can say is there has not been a contract offer on the table since I got here. The contract offer was here under a different regime. We want everyone to fight for what they're doing and to show their worth.
“There is a lot, we are taking a bit of time to look at it. We've not had loads of time since January, but had some time. Unfortunately, Dom has been injured but his history has been good.”
Moyes added: “I'll be the one who makes the final decision but Dom is the one who has to show us he can be robust and fit to play. Undoubtedly, he has qualities other strikers don't have and he has to show us when he gets those opportunities he has to take them.
“The first game for me he got me a goal against Tottenham and it probably made him feel better. I do believe if he had been around the team he would have got a few more goals.
“It's a nearly impossible question. We need him to become more robust or we're not getting the value of it We need him to be ready to train, play, be competitive in more games than he has been available for.
“He is an incredibly conscientious boy in terms of how he treats his body and keeps himself fit, he had worked privately in Germany for the last month or so to keep himself in the right shape so he's got himself back.”
Will Newcastle United make a move for Dominic Calvert-Lewin?
Interestingly, Calvert-Lewin’s situation isn’t too dissimilar to Callum Wilson at Newcastle. The 33-year-old is out of contract this summer but Newcastle are understood to have an option to trigger a one-year extension.
Wilson has scored 49 goals for the Magpies in 130 appearances since joining from AFC Bournemouth in 2020 for £20m, however his injury problems have delayed a decision regarding his future.
Speaking last Friday, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said: “He's very much in my plans going forward. We have four games to go and he's a huge part of that. I think he's looked better and better in recent weeks.
“You have to understand Callum probably has been going through a pre-season sort of in the short window, as in on the pitch, which is very difficult to do. But he needed the training and the game exposure to get back to his very best form. I think he's getting there now.
“I think physically I see the Callum Wilson of old, so a good sign for him. And he has stayed fit for a long period of time, which has been brilliant to see. And I think on his long-term future, let's wait and see.”
Should Wilson earn a new deal then United are unlikely to go out searching for a new striker. Alexander Isak has established himself as one of Europe’s best strikers, while Will Osula is hoping to finally kick on after arriving from Sheffield United last summer.