Everton’s seemingly never-ending turnover of both players and managers has seldom allowed the fanbase to get too attached to many.
However, of those who still remain at the club after an extended period, Dominic Calvert-Lewin bucks that trend.
The hulking striker, who joined for a pittance back in 2016, represents one of the club’s outstanding pieces of business in recent years. They took him from a promising teenager at Sheffield United and have moulded him into a solid Premier League striker.
Injuries have not been wholly kind to him, and as such the past few years have seen him struggle, but when he is performing well the entire team visibly benefits from it.
Now, in an effort to thank Evertonians for their continued support throughout yet another gruelling campaign, he has issued them a message.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin thanks Evertonians
However, in taking to Instagram, he might have even hinted at what the future might hold for him, with increasing speculation regarding Calvert-Lewin’s future only further fuelled given his contract expires in 2025.
The club will have to make a decision soon, but with this statement uttered by the 27-year-old, he clearly has plans to stick around and keep giving his all to keep Everton in the top flight.
In a montage that summed up his season, he attached the caption: ‘Thank you toffees for all your support this season, we stuck together through adversity and came out on top. May the pressure to be great continue to be a privilege.’
Given the end of his statement links to a claim he often makes, regarding the proud pressure of being Everton’s number nine and how he appreciates the faith shown in him, the use of ‘continue’ is indicative of a future where he will remain trying to win the affection of this fanbase.
Regardless of whether it is only for one final season, he is clearly making plans to still be around…
Everton must keep ahold of Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Whilst losing him on a free would be disastrous, to lose him this summer would arguably be even more catastrophic, given how his goals late in the season effectively kept them up.
Through his goal contributions alone, particularly against Burnley, Newcastle United, Brentford and Luton Town, he alone won the club seven extra points against relegation rivals no less.
And that’s without mentioning his towering back-post header to secure a derby win over Liverpool too.
He has a penchant for the big occasion, and even when he is not scoring his importance is imperative given his link-up play, blistering speed, relentless pressing and gravity-defying leap.
Beto has already proven he does not quite boast the same deft touch as Calvert-Lewin, whilst Youssef Chermiti remains too raw to be trusted throughout an entire season.
So, keeping ahold of their English star will be of paramount importance to ensuring Sean Dyche can build on a positive season with another of progression.