'One of the best': Tony Cascarino says 'fantastic' Newcastle target would be 'a hell of a signing' despite talks collapsing

Eddie Howe was forced to go back to the drawing board yesterday as talks between Newcastle United and Everton broke down over a potential 'mutually beneficial' transfer swap.

The deal was set to see Yankuba Minteh head to Goodison Park while Dominic Calvert-Lewin would have come the other way in two separate cash deals rather than a player exchange deal.

With both clubs needing to find quick funds to come under this year's PSR reporting threshold before Sunday's deadline, the double deal would have solved Newcastle's problems and done a lot to ease Everton's fears of yet another points deduction to add to the two they received last season.

However, the deal collapsed as Everton refused to budge on their £40million asking price for Dominic Calvert-Lewin despite the fact that the 27-year-old injury-prone striker who managed just seven goals last season only has a year left on his Toffees deal. Great move, Everton.

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Dominic Calvert-Lewin: Good but not

We can't say we were heartbroken over the deal falling apart, but TalkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino believes Newcastle could be about to miss out on a 'hell of a signing' (h/t HITC).

“Well, his actual goal record isn’t that bad over the time he has played for Everton. His numbers in recent years haven’t been particularly good. I think last year was seven Premier League goals.

“He has been blighted by injuries for so long. Calvert-Lewin at his best is a hell of a player and probably one of the best aerial players in the Premier League. He’s fantastic at getting up, leap, headers and powerful.

“But he has to stay fit. Can Eddie Howe keep him fit? Whether Eddie thinks he can solve that problem at Calvert-Lewin’s best, then he is a hell of a signing. He is in the last year of his contract, isn’t he? That’s probably why they are getting together.”

Don't be shocked if the deal sparks back into life this week

There were a lot of superlatives in there mixed with a couple of pretty sizeable red flags and I think in that sense, Cascarino has absolutely nailed the problem.

On his day, Calvert-Lewin can be quality, but his days have been so few and far between in recent seasons that it's hard to remember why he was seen as England's second striker behind Harry Kane at one point.

We aren't sure the Calvert-Lewin links are completely dead yet, we have a feeling that the deal may come back on as time starts to run out for Everton, but we'll see.