Merson warns Everton star Gordon over Chelsea move; gives Leicester, Brentford predictions

Joe Williams
Chelsea target Anthony Gordon skips past a challenge

Paul Merson has warned Everton star Anthony Gordon that he faces an “incredibly difficult decision” over whether to join Chelsea or not this summer.

The Toffees have already turned down a £45m bid from the Blues for Gordon this summer and widespread reports indicate that Chelsea are prepared to pay as much as £60m to land him this summer.

Gordon provided four goals and two assists in his breakthrough season in the Premier League last term following a brief loan spell at Preston North End the campaign before.


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And Merson is worried that in a few years time we will all be wondering about Gordon with England under-21 international risking his progress by moving to Chelsea.

Predicting Everton to lose 2-0 at Brentford over the weekend, Merson told Sportskeeda: “He’s Everton’s superstar, in a sense, and he’s got his head turned.

“I think he’ll leave for Chelsea tomorrow morning if he has the chance. But I don’t think he’d play for them anywhere near as often as he could for Everton.

“Anthony Gordon’s a hero at Everton. He’ll play every week, and he’ll be a big fish in a small pond. Will he go to Chelsea to sit on the bench and not play? In a few years, we might be sitting here saying, ‘What happened to that Gordon?’

“On the other hand, he’d probably earn triple the wages at Chelsea. If he turns the move down, will he ever get another chance to play for them? This is an incredibly difficult decision. Don’t go by the money, go with your heart.”

And Merson reckons Chelsea will bounce back from their 3-0 defeat to Leeds United at the weekend by defeating Leicester City by the same scoreline at Stamford Bridge.

“I don’t see Leicester having a great season at the moment. Wesley Fofana and Youri Tielemans are two of their best players, and they’re going to leave. James Maddison could get a bit restless as well, and Leicester may well have a mutiny on their hands.

“I think Leicester are in for a very, very long Premier League season. They had to bring on their big guns to get it done on penalties against Stockport the other day. Fortunately, they have a very good manager, but there’s a lot going on at the club. The one thing I love about them is that they have a go, and that could be their Achilles’ heel this week.

“Leicester will need to shut shop at Stamford Bridge, but I don’t think they will. Chelsea are a wounded animal at the moment, and I think they’ll pull off a big win this weekend.”