FRANK LAMPARD has told Anthony Gordon he should stay at Everton – because he’s only been a first-team regular for a year.
Chelsea are poised for a fourth attempt to land the winger before this week’s transfer deadline.
It will take a bid of £70million-plus for Everton to even consider selling the 21-year-old.
But Lampard, who made his own big money move as a player when he left schoolboy club West Ham for Chelsea in 2002, suggested Gordon owes the Goodison side a debt of loyalty at this stage of his career.
Lampard, who insisted Gordon is “in the squad, for sure” for Tuesday’s game at Leeds, said: “Anthony wouldn’t, couldn’t and shouldn’t do react badly and have his head turned with me.
“I think he knows that and there’s no doubt about it.
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“And I’m not playing the hard one. It’s just that it would be so alien to what I would expect of him. I just know that’s not him.
“At the same time, he’s not robot and you know all this attention is difficult.
“I understand – I was that ambitious, hardworking young player and that’s the beauty of Anthony – he’s hard working and wants to be better.
“He wants to do what he did at Brentford, which is score goals, work for this team and that’s why he’s a delight to work with.
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“There was never any idea that he’d react in any other way.
“That was my approach when it happened to me.
“But I played three and a half, maybe four seasons for West Ham. So there’s my answer to Anthony – he’s only played one for us.”
Lampard added: “Anthony’s character is great.
“He’s a huge player for us, it’s as simple as that. We are getting to the end of the window now but Anthony is a huge player for us and will be this season.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
