Manchester United are said to be interested in Dominic Calvert-Lewin moving to Old Trafford this summer, and the striker has been praised by his former boss Frank Lampard
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Frank Lampard on the touchline
Frank Lampard has lavished praise of Manchester United's reported target Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the past
(Image: 2019 Manchester United FC)
Free agent Dominic Calvert-Lewin would represent excellent value for Manchester United if Frank Lampard's assessment of the striker is anything to go by.
The Coventry City manager worked alongside the forward whilst in charge of Everton between 2022 and 2023. Although the 28-year-old endured injury problems for much of Lampard's tenure, the head coach remained impressed by the player's quality.
Calvert-Lewin's nine-year association with Everton ended this summer, with the striker leaving Merseyside as a free agent having netted 71 times in 273 outings. However, he may not remain without a club for long, reports the Mirror.
Manchester United are reportedly considering a move for Calvert-Lewin, with Ruben Amorim potentially seeking more attacking reinforcements amid uncertainty over Rasmus Hojlund's future. The striker is also said to be attracted to the prospect of joining the Red Devils.
United's interest is merely speculative at this stage, while a number of other clubs have been linked with a move for him, including Newcastle. However, if Lampard's glowing assessment is anything to go by, whoever ends up nabbing him on a free will have landed themselves a bargain.
Discussing Calvert-Lewin during his time at Goodison Park, Lampard said: "Dominic is a high-level striker, an England striker, a Premier League regular goalscorer with all his natural attributes that we see in terms of the types of goals that he can score, his strengths, his speed, his aerial ability.
"You have to try and play to the best strengths of that without a doubt and I think also, Dominic is a forward that can connect the game and hold the ball and drop in between lines at times as well."
He added: "He has been great. When I say that, throughout the period of time I have been here, he has a real desire to be playing regularly and showing what he can do.
"He has done everything he can do, which can sometimes be frustrating, but has handled himself in the right way. When you take a few knocks like that, and I know it myself as a player at times, they can knock you back and you don't feel like you are contributing to the team.
"Those things are hard to handle for any player and, looking back on it, I actually think he has handled them very well to get to a place where he should enjoy his moment last week when he shows an individual performance like he did. It's now a maintenance issue of trying to keep him in that level."
Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a free agent and has been linked with several clubs
(Image: PA)
Lampard was also swift to commend Calvert-Lewin for his development at Everton under Carlo Ancelotti between 2019 and 2021. He said: "Not everyone gets in their first team at 17 or 18, other than the Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen types of the world.
"Other players have to find different ways and now he has shown himself, last season and particularly this season, consistently he's an all-round striker. Every part of his game is a real threat."
Amorim has already splashed out over £200million this summer on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. However, with Hojlund's future at Old Trafford uncertain, he may still be in the market for a backup striker for the new season.
According to talkSPORT, United are one of three clubs in discussions with Calvert-Lewin. Hojlund, who signed from Atalanta in a £72m deal back in 2022, has struggled to justify his hefty price tag, netting just four Premier League goals last term.
Rasmus Hojlund looks dejected
Rasmus Hojlund could be on the move(Image: PA)
Despite the 22-year-old insisting he hopes to fight for his place under Amorim, he has been told he can leave the Theatre of Dreams for £30m this summer. Hojlund is understood to be open to a move to AC Milan, with Il Rossoneri keen to secure a season-long loan deal for the Danish star.
If Hojlund does depart, even temporarily, the only backups to Sesko would be Joshua Zirkzee, who scored a mere three goals in the Premier League last season, and the inexperienced Chido Obi. While Calvert-Lewin might not be top of United fans' wish list, the striker would undoubtedly bring a wealth of Premier League experience to Old Trafford.
As a free agent, the risk associated with a transfer would be minimal, aside from the player's wages. He is also reportedly eager to play for Manchester United next season and has parted ways with his agent in hopes of securing a move to the club in the coming weeks.
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