Jordan Pickford news uncovered as Everton ploy to raise cash amid boardroom strife at Goodison Park
Everton fans were left thrilled last month when it was confirmed that goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had signed a new, four-and-a-half-year contract at Goodison Park.
As confirmed on the Blues’ official website on 24 February, the 29-year-old had penned terms that keeps him at Goodison until 2027.
Kevin Thelwell called it a “significant boost” for Everton – but is there a ploy behind the whole contract news with the Toffees in a relegation battle?
It seems a bit too good to be true, if we’re honest.
Pickford is England’s number one, he had no prior attachment to Everton before he joined from Sunderland in 2017 and he’s good enough to be playing at a Champions League or Europa League club.
Either way, he shouldn’t be in a Premier League relegation year after year.
But Everton have been that club. They almost went down last term and aren’t out of the woods under Sean Dyche this year either with the Toffees just one point off the bottom three with 11 games left to play.
So, as we say, it’s a bit hard to believe, isn’t it?
Everton’s board have consistently duped fans into thinking good news is coming – just look at Farhad Moshiri’s broken promise in January that a new striker was going to be signed.
And with Pickford, the new deal comes with the caveat that there’s a release clause tied into it.
Alan Nixon reported via Patreon on 5 March that an “escape clause” was tied into the goalkeeper’s new and improved contract at Goodison Park in case the Toffees drop out of the Premier League.
It is understood that it’s a high release clause of £35million.
It shows there’s a concern at Goodison that relegation is possible and the new deal gives Pickford an escape route if all goes wrong.
It also gives the board the chance to get a big-money player off their wages and make a quick buck while they’re at it.
Everton’s Financial Fair Play issues are well documented and Alan Myers has recently admitted that relegation would lead to financial “armageddon” at Goodison.
Pickford’s new deal, in essence, means nothing. It’s irrelevant how long his deal is because why on earth would he stay with us when he could be playing for a side higher up the table?