Frank Lampard breaks silence over Dominic Calvert-Lewin transfer rumours amid Newcastle United claim

Frank Lampard has no concerns about Dominic Calvert-Lewin's 'focus' following speculation Newcastle United may be preparing a bid for the striker.

Claims Eddie Howe is interested in the 25-year-old surfaced this week, but Lampard said players of Calvert-Lewin's quality were rare and that the star is valuable to his efforts to take the Blues forward.

Asked whether he had any fears over Calvert-Lewin's commitment to Everton's survival bid, he added: "He is absolutely focused on the job. He has been a big player for Everton and Everton have been a big club for him in his career, so that should just be the story."

Lampard was asked about rumours surrounding Calvert-Lewin's future ahead of Sunday's tie with Brentford at Goodison Park. As well as Newcastle, the England international has been linked with Arsenal during a campaign plagued by injury. Calvert-Lewin is yet to score after a muscle problem halted his run of three goals in the first three games of the Premier League season. He returned to action earlier this year but was then forced out following another injury. He is now fit and could play a role against Brentford after coming off the bench at Watford on Wednesday.

Of the speculation surrounding him, Lampard said: "He is a fantastic striker, the pedigree of striker that there aren't many around. It's been unfortunate for me, I think, that I haven't had him fit. [There have been] little moments of fitness, but we know that strikers - particularly out of any position - probably need runs of games and fitness and confidence.

"We've never been able to get that for Dominic to be fair to him. But yeah, he's a huge player, they are not very common. He is contracted to us, three years left on his contract, and I want to