Bought for £1.5m, now worth £37.8m: Everton played a blinder with “prodigious” machine – opinion

Everton were saved from relegation by the skin of their teeth on Thursday night in a stunning comeback win over Crystal Palace.

The Toffees had looked in trouble following their defeat against Brentford, and knowing that a win against Palace would secure their Premier League status regardless of other results, it was the biggest win for the club in years.

The hero of the night? Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

It’s no secret that there hasn’t been a standout player this season for Everton, with Frank Lampard toiling by the week with a struggling side. However, if the 25-year-old marksman can get back to the form that the fans know he is capable of, then next season could be very different for the team.

The Merseyside club pulled off a blinder with his signing, having bought him from Sheffield United for a mere £1.5m in 2016. His market value as of March 2022 stands at £37.8m, with a high of £40.5m in December 2020.

His rise to stardom and England honours has been wonderful, and it’s a testament to his belief and talent that he has gotten this far in his career – and that there is probably still plenty to come.

If Everton were relegated, the likelihood is that Calvert-Lewin would have left the club and remained in the Premier League, with recent reports linking him with a move to Newcastle United.

His goalscoring record at Goodison Park rose exponentially until niggling injuries and a lack of goals dented the player’s confidence. Having struck 36 times in all competitions in the two campaigns prior, he has just scored five league goals this season, albeit with the most recent of those the most important one in the club’s modern history. Nonetheless, he will be aiming to improve that return next season.

Whatever happens, Everton