Duncan Ferguson has told Everton they should never have let Dominic Calvert-Lewin go, even if the striker was demanding £200,000 a week. The former Everton forward, speaking on the Overlap Daily via Sky Bet, said the club made a mistake in allowing the 29-year-old to leave.
Calvert-Lewin's Departure and Form
Calvert-Lewin, who joined Everton from Sheffield United in 2016, left the club in the summer of 2025 after his contract expired. Injuries blighted his final few seasons at Goodison Park, with the forward missing 529 days through various problems since the start of the 2021/22 campaign.
After leaving, the England international attracted interest from Fiorentina and Sunderland before joining Leeds. He has impressed at Elland Road, scoring 15 times in 39 appearances across all competitions last season, and has four goals in eight appearances this campaign.
Ferguson's Verdict
Ferguson, who coached Calvert-Lewin as a young player, said: "You should never have let Dominic go. I coached Dominic as a young man, and I put him in my team. He scored his first two goals in the same game, the game I managed against Chelsea. I put him up front. He's a great player."
He added: "You should never, ever have let him go. But obviously I don't know what's happened behind the scenes. If he wanted £200,000 a week, give him £200,000 a week. If he wanted £100,000 a week, give him it."
Ferguson also believes Calvert-Lewin deserves a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad, saying: "I don't see why not. I'm trying to think who's out there. Obviously, Harry Kane's out there, but Dominic should be in there. He should be. I rate him. He's 6ft 3ins, he's quick, he's got a lovely finish on him, and he gets in the six-yard box. He's got a tremendous leap in him. He's unbelievable in there. I don't see there's many other centre-forwards."
Thierno Barry Verdict
Ferguson, who scored 72 times for Everton across two spells, also gave his verdict on current striker Thierno Barry. Barry has scored six goals in all competitions this season, but Ferguson offered a mixed assessment.
"They need a better player up front," Ferguson said. "Now, to be fair to the lad up front, he's scoring goals, and he's got a great willingness to embarrass himself, which is a great trait. Because you must be getting scared going in there, because every time you go in there you fall over the ball. Against Hull, the boy came across and he had a tap-in with his left foot and he fell off his feet."
He continued: "It must be frustrating (for) the manager and the coach on the training ground, because technically he's not good. But he's got luck, and he's got willingness to get in there, and he keeps on getting in there. Barry's strength is running away from the ball. The boys shoot the ball, it hits off his bum and goes in, it hits off his chest and goes in. But he can't really head it."
Ferguson concluded: "He's not great technically, but he's scoring goals. He will improve. He's a young player, he's big, his work rate's fantastic. So, he's got a lot of pluses."
