91-cap star now ‘surplus to requirements’ at Goodison Park

Everton striker Salomon Rondon is surplus to requirements under Frank Lampard, according to Simon Phillips.

And the journalist reckons the 91-cap Venezuela international will leave Goodison Park when the market reopens for business in January.

What’s the latest news involving Rondon?

Rondon returned to the Premier League with Everton last summer when he arrived on a free transfer from Russian club CSKA Moscow.

But the experienced frontman has started just nine top-flight games, with the majority of his appearances coming from the bench, even with Dominic Calvert-Lewin out injured for much of his time as a Toffees player.

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Rondon has scored just three goals and two of which came against Non-League Boreham Wood in the FA Cup last January.

With Rondon, who almost secured a move to Turkey in earlier-September, likely to slip down the pecking order with Calvert-Lewin back fit, Football Insider believe he’s now free to leave in January.

What did Phillips say about Rondon?

He told GIVEMESPORT: “He’s pretty surplus to requirements under Frank Lampard.

“You could see it, even when they were short on numbers in attack last season and this season, Rondon was rarely called upon, only for some minutes at the end of the game.

“His future is clear, they’re going to get rid of him in January.”

Has Rondon had a good Everton career?

Everton signed Rondon hoping for him to provide cover and competition for Calvert-Lewin, but instead he’s contributed very little for the club.

In 28 appearances, he’s registered just three goals and one assist, with his poor form arguably leading to Lampard bringing in Neal Maupay in the summer.

Rondon was once a decent Premier League striker following notable spells with West Brom and Newcastle, where he averaged a goal every four top-flight games.

But since returning to English football with Everton, he’s not been able to come up with the same sort of form, which is ultimately going to lead to the Toffees offloading him after failing to do so in the last transfer window.

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