Everton will reportedly put Jordan Pickford up for sale in the summer, with Newcastle United a shock contender to sign him.
Pickford has been an ever present in the Everton side since joining from Sunderland. He did not miss a league game in any of his first three seasons with the Toffees.
In his first two campaigns, he kept a total of 24 clean sheets, and Everton finished eighth in both seasons. His form at Everton helped Pickford to cement a place in the England side.
While Everton’s form has dropped off drastically of late – they currently sit 18th – Pickford has retained his England spot. The goalkeeper has made 43 appearances for the Three Lions since his debut in 2017.
He has remained one of England’s most consistent performers, despite some questioning his displays at Everton. Pickford kept five clean sheets in EURO 2020.
But with Everton in a tough spot, speculation about star players moving on has been rife.
talkSPORT has revealed that Everton are ready to listen to offers for the England stopper. That report states that he will push for a move if Everton are relegated from the Premier League.
However, even if they stay up, the Toffees are considering cashing in on the goalkeeper, given he is one of their most ‘saleable assets’.
And they apparently have a couple of clubs keen on taking him on board already.
Tottenham are reported to be monitoring his progress. As are Newcastle – a move to the Magpies would be a shock, given the relationship between Pickford and the Newcastle fans, stemming from his time at Sunderland.
Move away makes sense for Pickford
A move away from Everton seems to make a lot of sense for Pickford. England’s no.1 should not be playing for a relegation-battling Premier League outfit, and definitely not a Championship side.
He will want to keep his role as England’s first-choice goalkeeper, and a transfer away may give him more chance of prolonging that. Everton should be able to make a good fee from him, too, given he is under contract until 2024.
A move to either Tottenham or Newcastle would be a much better fit. Tottenham are generally in and around the top-four race, this season has been no different, and Newcastle seem to be on the path to being a powerhouse once again.
The main issue with a move to the Magpies is his relationship with the supporters. It seems unlikely that a fanbase who actively dislike him, following his time at Sunderland, would welcome him with open arms.
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