Everton boss Frank Lampard praised Anthony Gordon for “brilliantly” handling the pressure of a potential switch to Chelsea after the winger scored in the draw at Brentford.
Gordon, who has been linked with a £60m move to Stamford Bridge, put Everton ahead with a well-taken strike.
However, substitute Vitaly Janelt’s late equaliser earned Brentford a deserved point. “It’s what I wanted from him,” Lampard said of 21-year-old Gordon.
“It was a great run, great timing and a great pass, and his composure was great.
“I’m delighted for him and thought his all-round performance was great. There’s pressure on him and I thought he handled it brilliantly.”
Having signed Neal Maupay from Brighton, much of the transfer speculation surrounding Everton in the final week of the transfer window is expected to focus on Gordon’s immediate future.
With Gordon regarded as one of Everton’s brightest prospects and a popular figure among fans, having come through the club’s academy structure, the Toffees are understandably reluctant to let him go.
But if he does leave before Thursday’s deadline, he will do so having offered an exciting glimpse of his potential as he controlled a long Conor Coady pass before firing an inch-perfect left-footed strike past David Raya.
“He’s a level of player at 21 years of age, with what he showed last year, everyone is talking about and clubs are interested in him and have had a nibble at him,” added Lampard.
“But he’s our player so I don’t come away from today thinking ‘oh dear that’s made someone keen to pay more millions for him’. I come away thinking ‘he’s an Everton player and I want him to stay. Simple.”
Everton defender James Tarkowski echoed Lampard’s comments by saying Gordon has remained unfazed by talk about his future while admitting he can see why the England Under-21 international is in demand. “He has been a different class,” Tarkowski, who joined Everton in the summer, told Sky Sports.
“All the paper talk and all the speculation, to be fair he just cracks on. Whatever comes will happen, but I love having him on my team. There is a reason why teams are after him.”
However, Gordon’s first goal of the season was not enough to earn Everton their first Premier League win of the season as Brentford struck late to deny Lampard’s side.
