Everton is now facing the prospect of parting ways with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as well as finalizing the sale of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa, according to a report by Paul Joyce in The Times.

The potential departure of Calvert-Lewin comes amidst the collapse of Dan Friedkin’s takeover bid, which has left the club grappling with ownership uncertainty. With the striker entering the final year of his contract and no new deal in sight due to the ownership turmoil, Everton is open to offers for the 27-year-old. Newcastle United, long-time admirers of Calvert-Lewin, could potentially enter the fray.

Friedkin withdrew his bid after encountering complications regarding debt owed to 777 Partners and A-Cap during the due diligence process, as reported by The Athletic.

Previously, hopes were pinned on the Friedkin takeover to secure Calvert-Lewin’s future at Goodison Park, especially after reports suggested he had turned down contract extension offers earlier in the summer (TEAMtalk, 9 July). Now, however, Everton will need to find a buyer for their number nine.

Bryan King, an insider at Everton, had earlier hinted at stumbling blocks in the takeover negotiations due to financial issues involving 777 Partners (Goodison News, 7 July). Losing Calvert-Lewin’s goal-scoring prowess could prove to be a significant setback for manager Sean Dyche, even though Amadou Onana was not a regular starter under his tenure.

Despite reports setting Everton’s asking price for Calvert-Lewin at around £40 million (talkSPORT, 16 July), the club may struggle to secure such a fee given their urgent need to sell. Calvert-Lewin, despite a resurgence in form last season under Dyche’s fitness management regime (Liverpool Echo, 12 July), carries injury concerns and the risk of a reduced transfer fee due to his contract situation.

With Manchester United already negotiating lower transfer fees for their targets amidst financial uncertainties, Everton faces a challenging task in negotiating Calvert-Lewin’s departure.

In other Everton-related news following the collapse of the takeover bid, updates have emerged regarding Andy Bell and George Downing.

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