Jordan Pickford set to stay at Everton as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United target new goalkeepers worth £68.9m
Everton have been handed a major summer transfer boost as Jordan Pickford looks set to stay at the club this summer, despite reports of his exit.
The England number one has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park despite signing a new long-term contract at the club earlier this year, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur linked with a £40m move.
But while both clubs are undoubtedly in the market for a new shot-stopper, it seems that Pickford has fallen down the pecking order on their shortlists as other deals take priority.
Tottenham were targeting Brentford number one David Raya, but when his asking price was too high they pivoted and this week completed a move for Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario in a deal worth an initial £17.2m (Sky Sports, 27 June).
Manchester United on the other hand have seemingly made the decision to allow David De Gea to leave at the end of his current contract, which officially expires at midnight tonight (June 30).
They’re in need of a replacement and were linked with a bid for Everton man Pickford, but recent reports suggest they are closing in on a deal for Inter Milan stopper Andre Onana in a deal worth up to €60m (£51.7m).
Those deals mean Pickford is now almost certain to be an Everton player when the new season starts in August, which will come as a huge boost to Sean Dyche.
On the other hand the club are still in financial disarray and reports seem to suggest they need to sell someone for a sizeable fee and with Pickford staying, it means Amadou Onana is likely to be the only other option.
In an ideal world Everton will find a way to keep both players and build on it to move away from a relegation battle, but if fans had to choose between the two they would surely prefer to keep hold of Pickford.
He has given his prime years to the club and is one of the better goalkeepers in the league, and has proven just how important he is to our survival hopes.
The fans and manager will be delighted, as will the changing room. Pickford is here to stay.
In other Everton news, a winner has been named in the race for this striker with the player “packing his bags” ahead of an imminent transfer.
