It was the kind of gesture that might have sparked a thousand theories before Frank Lampard brought the speculation to an abrupt end in the following hours.
Anthony Gordon headed for the throng of Everton fans massed in the John Charles Stand after scoring in the 1-1 draw at Leeds, ripped off his shirt and gave it to a fan who clambered down the steps with his son.
A goodbye gesture? No chance. A week on from when the departure, in the words of one insider, had started to move inexorably closer this felt more like confirmation of a growing love affair between Gordon and his public than the end of it.
No player has commanded more headlines in the latter stages of the transfer window than the England under-21 forward.
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Why Richarlison's showboating for Spurs should be encouraged not condemned30 August, 2022Largely those have revolved around how £60m feels like the English player premium in action, with even a section of the Everton fans theorising that they might be better off cashing in on what looks like a big price for a developing talent and using the money to quicken the pace of their rebuild.
Midweek opponents Leeds have done just that. Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha went and a whole new team and ethos has arrived at Elland Road. Perhaps a club that desperately needs a reset like Everton should have rolled the dice and done the same?
There is no doubt that they toyed with the idea at Goodison Park. Gordon never put in a transfer request but it was felt he had made his preference for a move to Chelsea and Champions League football clear.
That fee is a heck of a lot for a rough diamond in need of polishing and who could have blamed them if they took the cash?
Like the housing market, transfer fees this summer have to be seen to be believed. Will Gordon ever be worth £60m again?
That Everton have gone in a different direction means funds for a new striker are limited. Lampard said afterwards the club “aren’t desperate” for a new forward now Neal Maupay has arrived but with questions over Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness and Salomon Rondon’s future, he might be a tad optimistic there.
Instead the onus is on Lampard, who was always dead against a Gordon sale, and Everton to develop the player into the star that can help lift a club that has gone five without a win and only stayed up by the skin of their teeth last season.
If there is a big deal to be done before Thursday’s deadline, Lampard made it clear Everton won’t be the focus. “I’m very confident [Anthony will be our player]. The deadline [for selling him] has passed,” he said in a fascinating press conference at Elland Road.
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“He’s a very good player, he’s going to get better and better. I’m really pleased with his performance and attitude, he’ll have learned a lot in the last two weeks.”
Everton will be in the market until the final hours of Thursday’s deadline. But those expecting major surgery might be disappointed. “We’ll see,” was what Lampard said of a new striker. They are working on loans.
“It’s not been an easy window,” he admitted. “We know we need to adjust the squad. It’s given us a difficult start because we’re playing without a striker. It’s probably held us back from getting points we deserve because the performances have been good.”
This transfer window is phase one of a long-term project. Lampard pointed to Leeds as a club that had their ducks in a row to develop quicker than Everton.
“Bringing in players like Onana with huge energy gives us hope,” he said. He acknowledged that thus far, he’d had to dilute his principles to work with what he’s got.
“Can we play in different ways? Hopefully with players we’re bringing in, yes.”
One player heading for Goodison Park – finally – is Idrissa Gana Gueye. An £8m, two-year deal will be finalised on Wednesday. “It’s getting closer. We’re hopeful it will happen,” Lampard said.
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