Jordan Pickford ‘primary target’ for Manchester United amid Everton contract speculation
Jordan Pickford is now a “primary target” for Manchester United as speculation grows surrounding his Everton contract talks, according to The Mirror.
The Daily Mail reported (27 December) there had been a delay in contract talks with Pickford, with Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea all taking a look at the 28-year-old’s situation.
The Mirror has since suggested (29 December) that Pickford has risen to the top of United’s wishlist as Erik ten Hag eyes a goalkeeper who is capable of playing out from the back, as uncertainty grows over David De Gea’s future.
Not good
The delay in Pickford’s contract is not good news for Evertonians. The 28-year-old will want to be sorting his future out in the coming months, with his current deal coming to a close in the summer of 2024. The board will not want his current deal to run into its final year and if it does, the keeper is likely to move elsewhere.
Losing Pickford would be a massive blow considering the form he has produced over the previous two years. He was a big part in the Toffees maintaining their Premier League status and will be pretty much impossible for the club to replace should he depart.
News of interest from the Premier League simply has to kickstart the board into making a decision on Pickford’s future soon. The England international will be aware of the growing queue for his services and he may well become reluctant to sign a new deal.
Furthermore, if Everton did suffer a catastrophic relegation, they would almost certainly look to sell Pickford to generate some cash and get his wages off the books.