Everton crisis now on cards after Andy Lonergan contract decision
Everton could lose a handful of key players this summer as they look to raise funds for new signings, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford just one of the potential exits.
As per the Daily Star (17 June), Premier League giants Manchester United are interested in his services for the new campaign.
The Toffees obviously won’t want to lose their star man, with Pickford often single-handedly picking up points for the Merseyside club over the years.
The necessity for the England international to stay at the Toffees has become even greater after Sean Dyche lost his second-choice goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Despite being offered a new deal, as per the official Everton website (9 June), the Bosnian has left Goodison Park in search of a new challenge.
Also offered a new deal was fellow shot-stopper Andy Lonergan, the club’s third-choice player between the sticks.
And in an opposite decision to Begovic, the 39-year-old has decided to extend his stay on Merseyside until the end of June 2024, as confirmed by the official Everton website.
Despite being at the Merseyside outfit for two years now, the veteran goalkeeper has yet to make an appearance for the club.
It will be welcome news to Dyche, but it still leaves the manager with only Pickford, Lonergan and the returning Joao Virginia as his goalkeeping options.
Pickford could exit the club for Manchester United this summer, while Lonergan has no matchday experience for the Toffees. Three-cap Virginia meanwhile is unlikely to be thrown into the deep end despite coming back from his loan spell at Cambuur.
The signature of a Begovic replacement should, therefore, be on Dyche’s to-do list this summer, but funds are tight, and the manager desperately needs to strengthen in various other areas.
In other Everton news, Joey Barton has sent a three-word message as a Toffees exit is confirmed after a contract snub.