By Kevin Phillips

30th Apr, 2022 | 9:56am

Dominic Calvert-Lewin in for a rude awakening after Everton transfer update - pundit

Kevin Phillips has insisted Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin is in for a rude awakening this summer if his heart is set on a move to Arsenal.

The former Sunderland striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the Gunners will be setting their sights higher than the 25-year-old this summer.

A recruitment source told this site on Wednesday (27 April) that Calvert-Lewin has told friends he wants to join Arsenal over Newcastle this summer.

He is expected to leave Everton in the main window, with Football Insider revealing (19 April) the Toffees are open to offers in a bid to raise funds and balance the books.

Calvert-Lewin has netted just three goals in an injury-plagued 2021/22 campaign.

Arsenal supporter Phillips claimed signing the England international would not excite him.

“It’s a strange one,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.

“I think when he’s fully fit and firing, I can see it. But putting my Arsenal cap on, as an Arsenal fan – would it really excite me?

“If I’m holding my hands up, no.

“It would cost a lot of money in transfer fees and wages, so I would steer clear. If you’re going to make a statement then you’d set your targets a bit higher.

“That being said, if you can get him for the right money – he could be a really good signing for Arsenal.”

Calvert-Lewin’s best goalscoring return came last term, when he scored 16 goals in 33 league games for Everton.

Football Insider revealed on Thursday (28 April) that Marcus Rashford is also on the radar of Arsenal ahead of the summer window.

In other news, Kieran Maguire reveals Everton may have sealed top deal with “£30m guaranteed by Farhad Moshiri”.