‘If Chelsea are stupid enough’ - Simon Jordan’s brutal Anthony Gordon Everton transfer verdict

Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has insisted Everton should accept Chelsea’s reported £60million bid for Anthony Gordon.

The future of the England Under-21 has been the subject of intense speculation over the last month and Thomas Tuchel is said to be keen to take him to Stamford Bridge before the summer transfer window closes next month.

Gordon has featured in all three of the Toffees’ Premier League fixtures so far this season but remained as an unused substitute in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup win at Fleetwood Town.

With Chelsea now pressing to complete a deal, Jordan believes Everton should ‘realise it’s good business’ and let the young forward move to Stamford Bridge before reinvesting the money in their current squad.

“Sell him, cash in on him,” he said on TalkSPORT’s White and Jordan show.

“Brighton took £62million for Marc Cucurella. If Chelsea are stupid enough to be the latest incarnation of Johnny Splash-a-cash let them pay for him.

“Go and get the £60million. I think most Evertonians will look at it with disappointment but realise it’s good business and they’ll want it spent back in the team.”

Everton boss Frank Lampard opened up on the future of Gordon in the aftermath of the win at Fleetwood.

The England Under-21 star has quickly become a key player at Goodison Park and was one of the main reasons Lampard’s side fought an ultimately successful battle against relegation last season.

His form throughout the second half of the campaign captured the attention of a number of Premier League clubs and Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur had bids rejected for Gordon earlier this summer.

Chelsea are the latest club to show an interest in the forward and reports have suggested the Blues are willing to pay up to £60million for secure his services after failing with a £40million offer last month.

There have been suggestions Everton will look to include a season-long loan deal for Blues midfielder Conor Gallagher or striker Armando Broja in the deal.

Toffees manager Lampard revealed his stance on the potential move but stopped short of denying Gordon had asked to be allowed to join Chelsea.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the former England star said “He’s our player.  Everyone knows there’s interest from Chelsea, it’s very public now, but he’s our player.

“The reason he is on the bench, he had a bit of an issue with his heel against Forest, and we kept him out of it completely unless he was absolutely needed tonight and I didn’t think he was.

“I am never going to go into conversations me and Anthony have, we have a good relationship and I won’t even go there.”

When asked if the situation needed a quick resolution, Lampard said: “Ideally, or we carry on and he’s our player, so that’s what it is.”