Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who joined Everton from Sheffield United in 2016, left the club in the summer of 2025 following the expiry of his contract
Duncan Ferguson
Duncan Ferguson
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Duncan Ferguson has told Everton they should never have let Dominic Calvert-Lewin go - even if he wanted £200,000 a week. Calvert-Lewin, who joined Everton from Sheffield United in 2016, left the club last year after his contract expired.
Injuries blighted his final few seasons at the Blues, as he missed 529 days with various problems since the start of the 2021/22 campaign. After leaving, the forward attracted interest from Fiorentina and Sunderland before joining Leeds.
The England international has gone on to impress at Elland Road, scoring 15 times in 39 appearances across all competitions last season. He has four in eight appearances this campaign, and Ferguson believes Everton were wrong to let the 29-year-old leave the club.
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"You should never have let Dominic [Calvert-Lewin] go," he said on the Overlap Daily, via Sky Bet. "I coached Dominic as a young man, and I put him in my team.
"He scored his first two goals in the same game, the game I managed against Chelsea. I put him up front. He’s a great player.
"You should never, ever have let him go. But obviously I don’t know what’s happened behind the scenes. If he wanted £200,000 a week, give him £200,000 a week. If he wanted £100,000 a week, give him it."
Ferguson also believes Calvert-Lewin also deserves his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, adding: "I don't see why not. I'm trying to think who's out there. Obviously, Harry Kane's out there, but Dominic should be in there.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Duncan Ferguson during their time together at Everton
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Duncan Ferguson during their time together at Everton(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
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"He should be. I rate him. He's 6ft 3ins, he's quick, he's got a lovely finish on him, and he gets in the six-yard box. He's got a tremendous leap in him. He's unbelievable in there. I don't see there's many other centre-forwards."
And Ferguson, who scored 72 times for the Blues across two spells with the club, also believes Thierno Barry will only get better.
Barry has resembled a striker reborn this season, with six goals to his name in all competitions.
"They need a better player up front," Ferguson said. "Now, to be fair to the lad up front, he's scoring goals, and he's got a great willingness to embarrass himself, which is a great trait.
"Because you must be getting scared going in there, because every time you go in there you fall over the ball. Against Hull, the boy came across and he had a tap-in with his left foot and he fell off his feet.
"It must be frustrating (for) the manager and the coach on the training ground, because technically he's not good. But he's got luck, and he's got willingness to get in there, and he keeps on getting in there. Barry's strength is running away from the ball.
"The boys shoot the ball, it hits off his bum and goes in, it hits off his chest and goes in. But he can't really head it.
"He's not great technically, but he's scoring goals. He will improve. He's a young player, he's big, his work rate's fantastic. So, he's got a lot of pluses."