Everton exit for Jordan Pickford to become whole lot harder amid Chelsea and Tottenham transfer pursuit
Jordan Pickford’s potential close-season exit from Everton would be significantly harder to complete if the Toffees stave off relegation from the Premier League, according to Ben Jacobs.
The CBS journalist reports the England goalkeeper is on the respective radars of Chelsea and Tottenham with both clubs likely in the hunt for new number ones in the upcoming transfer window.
Everton earned a shock 5-1 win at Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday, 8 May, to move 17th – one place and two points clear of the drop.
With Mauricio Pochettino expected to take over at Chelsea for next season and Spurs yet to appoint a full-time boss, Pickford’s transfer situation is fraught with complications, not least the fact Everton’s own league status is yet to be decided.
“The goalkeeper situation is intriguing. Pochettino will want to assess Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy. There is nonetheless a feeling a new No.1 will be signed,” Jacobs wrote on Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing on the Caught Offside substack.
“Inter’s Andre Onana is one possibility. Chelsea and Spurs have looked at Jordan Pickford, too. If Everton stay up that deal becomes a whole lot harder since he recently extended at Goodison Park.”
Pickford should leave Everton
Pickford has been a terrific servant to the Toffees since arriving from Sunderland back in June 2017 and has twice won the club’s Player of the Season award.
But the boardroom uncertainty and muddled thinking among the football operations hierarchy have led to plenty of fan apathy, leaving the club feeling somewhat stagnant.
Pickford has been a regular for England under Gareth Southgate and has been between the sticks for the past three major international tournaments for the Three Lions.
But with Aaron Ramsdale impressing for title-chasers Arsenal this season, coupled with the fact he is about to have regular exposure to Champions League football, the battle for the gloves will only intensify in the coming 12 months.
A move to Chelsea or Tottenham may not yield immediate Champions League games for Pickford next term but realistically there is a far greater chance of both of those sides dining at European football’s top table again before Everton, who must address their off-field issues to progress in the top flight.