Highly-rated goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is set to join Everton for £30million
According to Sky Sports, Everton have agreed a deal with Sunderland of up to £30million for highly-rated young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The 23-year-old is expected on Merseyside to tie up a deal once he finishes international duty with the England under-21 team.
Many people have criticised the Merseyside club for potentially paying what seems like such a big fee. However, in today’s crazy transfer market, £30million for a highly rated young goalkeeper could well prove to be a bargain.
In addition, the initial transfer fee is not £30million. Sunderland will only receive that fee if Pickford achieves certain milestones at Everton.
Pickford could play for a decade and a half
Pickford is at the start of his career. In fact, last season was his first full campaign in the Premier League, after loan spells previously at various clubs including Preston.
The England under-21 could play for the next decade and a half at the top level. Some goalkeepers play well on into their thirties. Pickford’s fee may not prove such a big deal if he is Everton number one for a decade, which he realistically could be.
One of the best goalkeeper’s British football’s ever produced Neville Southall played into his late thirties for Everton. The former Wales international even helped the Toffees win the FA Cup back in 1995.
It is not like Pickford will not any sell-on value in the future either. Even if he does not quite make it at Everton, no doubt the Toffees would still recoup a decent fee if he sold on.
Youngster has immense promise
Last season Sunderland were by far and the way the worst team in the top-flight. However, Pickford and striker Jermain Defoe were the only bright spots for David Moyes side. Both will leave the club this summer, but neither is responsible for the Black Cats finishing bottom of the table.
The pair can leave with their heads held high, unlikely most of their teammates. If it were not for Pickford, Sunderland would have been down before the Christmas tree.
The young goalkeeper may have been inexperienced at the start of the season. However, he certainly picked up a lot of experience during the season playing behind one of the worse defences the Premier League has ever seen.
Pickford had to make 135 saves for the Black Cats last season, some of them spectacular. When called upon he produced more often than not and kept some of Sunderland’s games respectable at times.
At Everton, he will have a better defence in front of him. Toffees boss Ronald Koeman shored up the Toffees backline last season. Defensive reinforcements will arrive this summer, with Burnley’s Michael Keane reported to be a Toffees target.
Overall, it seems like a good move for Pickford. The youngster looks to be moving to an ambitious club looking to move forward.
He is also likely to be first choice goalkeeper at Goodison Park next season. Current Toffees goalkeepers Joel Robles and Maarten Stekelenburg were both unconvincing last season.
Everton set for a big summer
While most the of transfer talk surrounding Everton has revolved around Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley leaving, the Toffees hierarchy have reportedly been busy looking to strengthen their squad for next season.
Malaga striker Sandro Ramirez has been photographed in a Liverpool hotel, ahead of talks with Everton’s director of football Steve Walsh. A reported fee of around £5million would be a steal for the highly rated 21-year-old, who scored 14 times in La Liga last season.
Reports from Sky Sports also suggest the Toffees are in advanced talks with Ajax over a deal for captain Davy Klaassen. The two clubs have yet to agree on a fee. However, the Merseysiders are hopeful of agreeing on a deal to sign the midfielder.
If Everton could sign Pickford, Klaassen and Sandro then their squad would look massively improved. All three players are young and highly rated.
Everton already have a decent squad and if they make the expected additions then may just be dangerous outsiders for a top-four place, which the Toffees are odds of 10/1 to achieve next season.
Pickford arriving at the club could just be the start of a very busy summer for everybody connected with Everton. Even if Barkley and Lukaku leave, there is plenty of cause for optimism at Everton this summer.
Will Jordan Pickford be a good signing for Everton?
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