There was a joke going round the WhatsApp groups of Leeds naysayers this week.
Out goes jettisoned Patrick Bamford, the injury-prone striker who has struggled for goals in recent years and his best days are in the past. In comes Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the injury-prone striker who has struggled for goals in recent years and… you get the gist.
It may well end up to be true, but many do not believe it. Not least Leeds boss Daniel Farke, the Elland Road hierarchy and, perhaps more importantly, Calvert-Lewin himself. At 28, the striker has left Everton behind after nine years – and is ready to write a new chapter.
Another ironic thing is that said new chapter could well begin against his previous employers, with new club Leeds hosting Everton under the Elland Road lights on Monday night.
The story so far has been an up-and-down journey. After moving to Merseyside from Sheffield United, who he joined aged eight, he was moulded into one of the most formidable forwards in the country before injuries and subsequent poor form ultimately saw his reputation nosedive.
Leeds are hoping they are signing the Calvert-Lewin who banged goals in for fun in two seasons between 2019-2021, 13 and 19 in those campaigns, and wound up opposition defenders and fans with his style and celebrations.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is ready for a new chapter in his career after joining Leeds following his departure from Everton
The 28-year-old negotiated the move to the Premier League new boys alone after splitting with his agent
Calvert-Lewin left a mixed legacy on Merseyside with injuries repeatedly limiting his involvement
Everton will be hoping, in terms of not regretting letting their long-serving No 9 go, that Leeds are signing the man who has struggled for form in the seasons since his halcyon days under Carlo Ancelotti and, latterly, Rafael Benitez.
In that time, he has netted a poor 17 goals across four years, playing just 60 per cent of available games due to a succession of injuries. He has dramatically underperformed the expected goals (xG) statistics in all those years.
But forget all that. Across the Pennines, they believe that this free transfer is a bargain worth taking – and one that Farke has described as a ‘no brainer’.
They were willing to take the risk due to his Premier League know-how and sources close to the player suggest he is at his fittest level in some years after a carefully-constructed personal fitness plan this summer.
Daily Mail Sport understands that Calvert-Lewin parted ways with his agent recently and negotiated his next move on his own. He had offers from around the Premier League and abroad, including Champions League clubs, but Leeds stood out.
This is the summer that he wanted to take control of his own life. After considering all the options on the table, he felt that he wanted to be a ‘part of something special again’, as one source says. Leeds provided that feeling.
There is a nice story about how he has often watched them play with his wife and children because one of his close friends is a big Leeds fan. Perhaps that played a part and things have definitely gone full circle.
‘It wasn’t rocket science, he’s a good and experienced player on a free transfer,’ a source close to the situation tells us. Yes, he had a few injuries in the last few seasons but the medical went well and Leeds trust that they can get the most out of him.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke has convinced the experienced striker to start over at Elland Road
That first conversation with Farke and Co was enough to convince Calvert-Lewin to move across the Pennines. He liked the vision of how Farke wanted him to play and felt that the German understood what he was capable of. Besides, the Leeds boss had done his research.
The big irony is that his debut could be against Everton, when the sides meet at Elland Road on Monday. Although it is easy to say David Moyes dropped Calvert-Lewin, the feeling was pretty mutual and it felt like time to move on.
‘He’s a really good age, proven at Premier League level with more than 200 games and 60 goals and in 11 appearances for the England team, scored four goals,’ said Farke. ‘We don’t have to speak about his qualities. He has all the skills you’d like your striker to have.
‘It’s a chance for him to revive his career and reach former heights when he was outstanding at Premier League level. The key for him is not to be over-motivated. We will build his fitness step by step so he can find confidence in his body and rhythm.
‘If we do so, he has shown what he can do. He can be outstanding for us.’
Since his contract ended, he has trained intensively with private coaches and trained during his holidays and the word around Thorp Arch is about how he already looks in solid shape. Nevertheless, Leeds won’t rush him back and he is likely to start the night on the bench.
But the main thing is that the boy who once looked like he could lead the line for England now has confidence and belief in his ability and his body once again.
He said: ‘I am really excited. I feel like a kid again that is just starting somewhere new and I just can’t wait to play and represent the football club. For me, it is a massive football club with a massive fan base.
‘It is something that I really, really wanted to be a part of. I spoke with the manager prior to this and we had a really good conversation. He gave me a feeling of a lot of understanding and it made me really excited to work with him.’
