Jordan Pickford transfer update emerges as Chelsea eye Everton keeper and England rival Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal
Jordan Pickford is “not moving” if Everton don’t get relegated so Chelsea will be unable to sign him, according to Graeme Bailey.
The 90min journalist said on the Talking Transfers podcast on 31 October that the Stamford Bridge side still “like” the Toffees star as they look to upgrade on Robert Sanchez, but there is instead “every chance” that they “snap up” England rival Aaron Ramsdale if he is made available at Arsenal.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have been linked to Pickford, 29, for much of the past two years but with the arrival at the Emirates of David Raya it is Ramsdale who is “considering his options” and more likely to end up heading to West London.
Bailey said (28m 55s): “The one situation that we need to keep an eye on is Aaron Ramsdale. My understanding is that Chelsea are keeping an active watch on the situation.
“Even since [September] it really has clearly emerged that David Raya is the number one at Arsenal, so Ramsdale is now considering his options.
“If he hasn’t got his place back by January I think he’s going to be pushing for a move, and if Arsenal make him available there’s every chance that Chelsea will snap him up, every chance.
“They’re doing their due diligence, they’ve got these foreign keepers they’re looking at. Obviously they like Jordan Pickford but if Everton don’t go down he’s not leaving. They know who they like.”
Secure
Once Pickford signed his new contract back in February, despite Everton being in no way sure of their Premier League survival, it looked clear that he is committed to the club barring a major change in the situation.
That would surely include falling out of the top flight given how that would put his England place under threat, and with the mooted 12-point deduction hanging over the Toffees that unfortunately remains a concern.
On form alone, and with some sides looking likely to struggle even more then Sean Dyche’s this year, the drop should be less of a threat unless a hefty punishment is handed out by the independent commission with regards to the contested profit and sustainability charge.
It is some turnaround for the situation to have gone from calls for Ramsdale, 25, to replace Pickford in goal for the national team to him not even getting in the side for Mikel Arteta to the point where he could now move on.
But if he is available and attracting interest that should be good news for Everton if it wards off transfer threats from the likes of Chelsea.
At this stage it looks like the Toffees number one is well set to remain in place for the long-term and just as well as he continues to prove he is one of the key men in this side.
In other Everton news, a host of other teams have been named as more deserving of relegation as the Premier League were slammed over their “desire to crush Everton”.