Everton star snubbed ‘lucrative’ exit in favour of legendary Goodison status
Jordan Pickford has turned down “lucrative” offers throughout his Everton career to stay and become a legend on Merseyside, according to Ian Darke.
Pickford is approaching 300 games for the Toffees and is expected achieve the feat in the coming weeks, having played what TV commentator Darke describes as a “huge, huge part” in consolidating their status in the Premier League.
Darke compared Pickford to record-holding Neville Southall, who played over 750 senior games for the Merseyside club, and speaking exclusively to Goodison News, believes England’s first-choice stopper deserves similar folklore for his unwavering commitment to the cause.
“He’s played a huge, huge part in keeping Everton as a top-flight club, and I don’t think anybody could deny that. He deserves to be a Goodison hero and remembered alongside great Everton goalkeepers like Neville Southall and people like Ted Sagar. Pickford is one of those. His loyalty to the club is great considering surely there have been opportunities for him at various points to get a more lucrative deal somewhere else,” he explained.
“There’s always been a bit of a debate about him; some people don’t like him as England’s number one, but you watch his performance at Arsenal [14 December] for instance and he is England’s number one.
“His emotional involvement as well – it’s almost like he’s starting a party when he makes a save and the impact he makes, and he’s a humble, down-to-earth kind of guy like a lot of the England squad who have been loaned out lower down.”
Jordan Pickford commands Everton and England respect
Pickford’s resolute attitude in adversity and the combative way he goes about his business on the pitch is increasingly admired.
Having been the undisputed number one for both club and country across several years now, his drive and enthusiasm has been commended by an array of former managers and teammates.
Under Thomas Tuchel, the 30-year-old is expected to soon surpass Gordon Banks’ 73 caps, with which he is currently level, during the next international break in March.
In other Everton news, the club are chasing a striker from a Ligue 1 club they have previously cherry-picked.
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