Chelsea are prepared to up their offer for Everton’s Anthony Gordon to £45m.
Everton have already rebuffed one £40m approach for Gordon from Chelsea, who remain determined to test the Toffees’ resolve to hang onto their academy product.
Everton have fended off interest in Gordon, 21, from Tottenham and Newcastle this summer but are now facing a fresh threat from big-spending Chelsea.
And the Londoners’ interest in prising Gordon away this summer has handed Everton a dilemma.
Gordon has two years left on his current deal and does not wish to sign a new one making this window Everton’s best hope of securing a market value fee for the winger before his price begins to fall as he moves closer towards the end of his contract.