Everton boss David Moyes bullishly insisted he was making the final decision on a new contract for Dominic Calvert-Lewin last month.

With the striker now being a free agent, the Everton manager won’t face the same dilemma as his predecessor did during his time on Merseyside if Calvert-Lewin heads to Newcastle.

6

The ex-England forward is available on a free transfer after leaving Everton, and Magpies boss Eddie Howe is a long-term admirer.

Newcastle, who have secured their spot in next season’s Champions League, had previously considered a deal for the 28-year-old last summer but decided not to pursue it due to the high cost.

That stance may be understandable considering the Toon’s history in the last time they made a move for an Everton striker on the cheap.

Just four months after Moyes’ first Toffees predecessor, Walter Smith’s arrival at Goodison Park, a shock sale was pushed through.

On Monday, November 23, 1998, the very night Newcastle suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Everton, they finalized an £8million agreement to acquire Everton’s star player, Duncan Ferguson.

‘Big Dunc’, who watched the match from the stands due to injury, had only been told hours beforehand that the club’s hierarchy were open to cashing in.

That speculation spread like wildfire to the press room at Goodison, but was swiftly shot down by Alan Myers, Everton’s head of media.

However, Myers became the first of many club staff to be dealt an almighty shock when coming down a flight of stairs in the stadium.

Having noticed the door to the chairman’s office on the first floor was ajar, he told ChronicleLive: “Certainly, on a matchday, it was never open because, obviously, the fans were there and we wouldn’t want them going in there.

“I thought I better just check and see what’s happening. Why was the door open?

6

6

“I opened the door and there was Ruud Gullit, Duncan Ferguson and his agent doing the deal. I was like, ‘Oh my God. What do I do here?'”

That same anguish was shared by Everton manager Smith and his assistant Archie Knox as they bumped into Ferguson on the stairs.

As recalled by the Liverpool Echo’s Head of Sport, David Prentice, Ferguson opened the exchange by saying: “I thought you might have stuck up for me, gaffer.”

Walter replied: “Stuck up for you, how?”, to which his Scottish countryman answered: “With the move. I’ve been sold to Newcastle.”

“What are you talking about? Have you signed anything?” Walter added, before Ferguson revealed he’d ‘shaken hands on a financial package’.

The Everton boss said: “Well, sign nothing. I need to speak to Jinky (His pet name for then-chairman Peter Johnson).”

6

6

An angry exchange followed, where Smith was informed that Ferguson had been sold for an initial outlay of £7m, with another £1m due when the 6ft 4ins Scot played 30 games.

To make matters worse, the Everton boss was also told that none of the fee would be used to fund any new players he wanted to sign.

“I am disappointed at Duncan leaving, and I am also disappointed with the circumstances in which the transfer has taken place,” Smith said.

“I was unaware the transfer was going through until 11pm last night, so it was disappointing to me in both aspects.”

The controversial transfer instantly made Everton chairman Johnson’s position untenable, and he resigned less than a week later.

And Smith made it clear that unless a statement was issued by the club confirming he had been unaware of the Ferguson’s sale, then he would follow suit.

6

When it eventually arrived, as reported by the BBC, it stopped short of offering any apology to the Everton manager.

It read: “A substantial offer for Ferguson was received from Newcastle, which was discussed with that club’s representatives immediately before and during the course of last Monday’s game. Their discussions resulted in an agreement being reached at the time.

“Unfortunately, details of these discussions were not passed to Walter Smith during the course of the game, and it is regretted that he learned of the final agreement reached regarding Duncan Ferguson in the manner he did subsequent to the conclusion of the match.”

The statement adds: “In light of the many comments, some highly speculative, currently being made regarding Duncan Ferguson’s transfer to Newcastle, both chairman and manager felt the following statement should be issued on a joint basis.”

And 26 years later, it is the forward behind Ferguson in Everton’s all-time Premier League scoring charts, considering Newcastle as his next step.

But for Moyes, who said on Calvert-Lewin’s contract that he’ll be ‘the one who makes the final decision’, nothing will come as a surprise…