Sky Sports pundit expects bids as Chelsea and Tottenham eye Everton star Jordan Pickford
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Chelsea and Tottenham are likely to consider giving Everton a “test” with bids for England keeper Jordan Pickford, according to Kevin Campbell.
The Blues are scouting the Three Lions’ number one during the World Cup according to Stamford Bridge reporter Simon Phillips on 20 November, as part of a shortlist they have for a new keeper, and Fabrizio Romano has confirmed they are interested (21 November).
TEAMtalk on 8 November meanwhile put the 28-year-old, who kept a clean sheet against the USA on Friday night (25 November), on Spurs’ three-man shortlist to replace Hugo Lloris, and Sky Sports pundit Campbell accepts that however confident he is of the player remaining a move could happen if teams chance their arm with an offer.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News he said: “It’s a tough one. I think Jordan Pickford’s committed to Everton, I think Everton are committed to him.
“But it’s not going to stop the speculation that’s for sure. Speculation from being England’s number one.
“Other teams are going to be looking and saying, ‘Do you know what? We can test Everton with a bid here’.
“You just never know what can happen in football. I’m not going to say it can’t happen because it could.
“I don’t see it happening right now because I think the player and the club are both committed to each other, but who knows what happens down the line.
“Pickford hasn’t let England down. He’s performed, he’s the number one, so I’d be surprised if there weren’t clubs looking at him.”
Losing Pickford midseason would be a nightmare for Frank Lampard, because even if the keeper’s form has dipped slightly in the last few weeks from how good he was earlier in the season he is a key figure in the squad.
It would destabilise the team at just the wrong moment when the manager needs to plan an escape from another relegation battle.
But both Chelsea and Spurs have come calling with big money in the past year, with the former ultimately unsuccessful in chasing Anthony Gordon and the latter able to pick up Richarlison.
It wouldn’t be surprising for them to make a push for Pickford in the next six months, so everything will depend on his willingness to sign a new contract, because the Gordon situation proved the club can hold off major money as long as the accounts are balanced enough to avoid another Richarlison-style departure.