Everton want at least £30m for Tottenham Hotspur-linked Jordan Pickford
Everton will ask for at least £30m if they are to sell goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, according to the Liverpool Echo.
A report in The Telegraph claims that Tottenham Hotspur are keen to sign the England international as a long-term successor to Hugo Lloris.
Pickford has been at Everton for four years since signing from Sunderland in 2017 and made 172 appearances for the club in that time.
The Liverpool Echo suggest that while the Toffees are in need of funds to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, they will not let the goalkeeper leave on the cheap as his contract at Goodison Park does not expire until 2024.
The report highlights how Arsenal spent £30m on shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale, meaning Everton would want at least that figure for Pickford, who is ahead of Ramsdale in the England pecking order and has more Premier League experience.
Strong negotiating position
Everton face a dilemma between needing to generate revenue through player sales and wanting to keep one of their most important assets.
Pickford has no doubt had his faults since arriving at Goodison Park four years ago, but he has proved a reliable shot-stopper and his distribution is vital to the way the Toffees play.
Combined with the fact that he still has over two years left on his contract, Everton should be in a strong negotiating position if interest from Tottenham turns into a concrete offer.
If Spurs are in the hunt for a successor to Lloris, they will know that buying a top-level goalkeeper is not a cheap business – particularly one approaching the prime years of his career like 27-year-old Pickford.
The England international himself cost £25m in 2017, while in recent seasons Chelsea have spent £72m on Kepa Arrizabalaga and Liverpool bought Alisson for £56m.
If the right offer does come in, you get the feeling that Everton may reluctantly accept.
In other Everton news, a report has shared the likelihood of Rafa Benitez facing the sack in the near future.
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