George Pickford set to follow in David Raya’s footsteps as Everton exit on cards
Everton Under-21 goalkeeper George Pickford looks set to leave on loan.
His namesake, Jordan Pickford, is the Blues’ starting goalkeeper, and there is little chance of ousting the England number one at the moment.
Liverpool Echo reporter Joe Thomas claimed on 12 February that National League North side Southport want to sign the 18-year-old.
Arsenal star David Raya spent the 2014-15 season with the Sandgrounders, and he thrived in his spell with the non-league club.
Why Southport loan could be pivotal for Everton gem Pickford
Raya thrived in his time at Haig Avenue, with former manager Gary Brabin claiming that he was crucial to the club avoiding relegation.
Speaking to Sky Sports in 2023, Brabin said: “He was an unbelievable character, confident and bubbly and it was lovely to feed off that and spread it among the squad.
“The way David was so confident, we played a lot more football on the ground than other teams at our level and we quickly got out of those bottom four places. He was integral to that because of how good he was.
“We felt safe having him at the back, and it wasn’t just keeping the ball out, he was starting our play. He was our starting point, and it was successful for us.”
The Blues youngster could have a similar impact and come back to Hill Dickinson Stadium with vital experience under his belt in the senior game.
Raya is now an established Premier League star, so if Pickford takes the same route, it could put him in a very good spot.
Why is Pickford so highly rated at Everton?
Pickford is no relation to the current Toffees starter, but he could be on the same trajectory after his recent exploits in the youth ranks.
He was the hero as the young Blues secured a 0-0 draw against Arsenal on 6 February, with a stunning save in the last few minutes keeping the scores level.
The academy released footage of the save on their X account after the contest, and it was a truly stunning effort to keep the shot out.
Given the rigours that come with playing in non-league, it may well help to refine his game and put him in a better position to take over from the senior Pickford in a few years’ time.
Moyes has plenty of options to choose from for a potential future first-team stopper, once his current number one is no longer in the mix with the likes of Douglass Lukjanciks, Goodness Gospel-Eze and Seve Patrick in the Under-18s.
However, a loan move to follow in the footsteps of Raya, who is now a star, could put Pickford in pole position to make the step up in the near future.
Only time will tell, but it would be a positive step for the promising talent.
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