Tuchel wants Gordon at Chelsea after dazzling against his side

Amid the frenzy of ear-splitting noise and blue-billowing smoke, Thomas Tuchel’s eye kept being drawn to the young man who continually dashed past him.

In the heat of a relegation battle, with pressure at its most intense, Anthony Gordon demanded he be given the ball and made it his responsibility to inspire those around him.

The Everton forward had been acting that way for many weeks but Tuchel was seeing it up close for the first time.

Gordon had been a beacon in a campaign of misery for Everton and, when it mattered, he stepped up to the plate.

His winning goal against Manchester United on April 9 was colossal — the desire to run for those in the stands was admirable.

A little more than three weeks later he kept charging at Chelsea’s players. He left the field that day roaring with delight, fists pumping and teeth clenched.

Everton had beaten Chelsea 1-0 but unbeknown to Gordon, he had left a huge impression on Tuchel, who headed back from Merseyside on May 1 as a paid-up member of the 21-year-old’s fan club. 

If you have asked yourself in recent days why Chelsea are prepared to finance a £60million deal for Gordon, it all traces back to then.

Tuchel was taken by Gordon’s fearless attitude, his speed and the persistence that went with his talent and saw a player with whom he felt he could work.

Tuchel had already made a note of Gordon when, in a game at Stamford Bridge last December, he came up with the assist that enabled Everton to pilfer a last-gasp point against the odds but the return fixture was decisive.

It is why Chelsea are now backing their manager’s judgment and the clubs are discussing a way that will, in all likelihood, see Gordon follow another Everton academy product, Ross Barkley, to Stamford Bridge.

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