Gordon might go, admits Lampard

FRANK LAmPARD is reluctant to sell Anthony Gordon but admits the 21-year-old could still go if Chelsea match Everton’s £50million-plus valuation.

If Chelsea improve their £45m offer for the midfielder, Lampard said Everton’s decision would be based on a balance of ‘ football and business’ interests.

His desire to keep Gordon (right) may have to give way to Everton’s financial needs with the club reporting huge losses in their latest accounts.

They have already sold Richarlison to Tottenham for £60m this summer.

‘It’s a serious situation on a football level and a club business level,’ said Lampard. ‘Simple as that, if you can join those two up and make the right decision.

‘I always consider the football one the most important because that is what my job will be judged on and Anthony is a fantastic player for us. That is why my answer is what it is.

‘When you’re talking about the level of player Anthony is and the value of player, we know what those kind of players go for in the modern day. You see the values of players moving who haven’t achieved what Anthony has.

‘He has a huge value to the team and is a hugely valuable asset to the club, one we have developed ourselves and brought through from the academy and who has a link to the fans. I want to think about what Anthony can do to improve the team but it would be naive of me to assure anything.’

Lampard also admitted Everton, who are looking for their first points against big- spending newcomers Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park today, have received interest in Dele Alli from Turkish club Besiktas and was non-committal about the 26-year- old’s future after just six months at the club.

‘There is interest in Dele,’ he said. ‘That is one for us to consider behind the scenes and for Dele to consider. For him to go would have to be right for everybody.’