Everton’s decision to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin in 2016 has proven to be a masterclass by Farhad Moshiri, as the England international’s value has grown exponentially since arriving at Goodison Park.

The striker arrived at Everton in a £1.5m deal from Sheffield United six years ago and has gone from strength to strength since then, scoring 58 goals in 191 appearances for the Toffees.

Despite an injury-hit 2021/22 campaign that saw him feature just 17 times in the top flight last season, scoring five goals, Calvert-Lewin was still a man in demand during the summer transfer window.

Newcastle United were said to be keen on the 25-year-old forward but reports suggested that Everton valued their talismanic forward at £60m, which was enough to deter any interested parties.

Had the Toon paid the £60m fee they were quoted by Everton, it would have meant that the Toffees had sold Calvert-Lewin for 40 times the fee they paid, which represents incredible business by the Merseyside club.

However, Frank Lampard was clearly keen to keep him at the club and will be hoping the England forward can get back to his best once he recovers from the injury that has ruled him out of the opening six fixtures of the new campaign.

Calvert-Lewin will be needed this season if the Toffees are to steer well clear of relegation, especially after last season’s top scorer Richarlison joined Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the summer.

Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin’s partnership during his time in charge of the Toffees, which suggests that the Englishman is even more important to the club now he is without his former striker partner.

Ancelotti said: “We have two fantastic strikers. They are really young, they can improve. They combine well together. They have different characteristics. It’s not easy to find these kinds of strikers so I am really pleased to be their manager.

“They have it all in their hands, because they are modern strikers in my opinion who have everything. They are strong, they are fast, they are good without the ball. We couldn’t ask for more. I am a lucky man.”

The former Sheffield United man scored the vitally important winner when Everton beat Crystal Palace to secure their Premier League status last season.

The Toffees have hit just five goals in six games with no wins so far this campaign, so another season of struggle could well be on the cards, so keeping Calvert-Lewin fit and firing could make a huge difference to Everton’s chances.

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Even if he has another difficult season, there is little doubt that the decision to sign Calvert-Lewin for £1.5m in 2016 was a masterclass by Moshiri.