Everton find replacement as high-earner Mark Travers set for difficult exit

Everton have slowly started rebuilding their squad, with Mark Travers next to likely leave in this window.

The Irish goalkeeper arrived on Merseyside last summer, knowing full well he would be the understudy to number one Jordan Pickford.

However, it seems that one season without regular football is all the 27-year-old was able for with him looking to exit.

That appears to not be an issue for the Toffees who are reportedly happy to allow him to seek first-team football elsewhere.

Of course, that is unlikely to be sanctioned until the Blues can scoop up a replacement.

But Travers' own exit could be deterred due to issues relating to the Irishman himself.

Who do Everton want to replace Mark Travers with?

Work is already underway to replace Travers, even if an exit is to yet to be agreed.

A drop down to the Championship has been mooted, with Goodison News previously relaying information that Middlesbrough had enquired about Travers.

According to journalist Alan Nixon via Patreon, the Toffees have identified Wolves' Sam Johnstone as a possible back-up goalkeeper to Pickford, should that exit go through.

The Wolves goalkeeper is a former England international, having earned four caps throughout his career so far.

Additionally, at 33 years old, the Englishman may be more willing to sit on the bench for most of the season, with a couple of appearances arriving in cup matches.

However, that could hit a roadblock related to Travers, with it stated his high wages are proving to cause difficulties over an exit.

A loan move as a solution to combat those wage concerns could be on the cards, but the Toffees may want to completely cut ties with Travers and recoup some money.

How much is Travers on at Everton?

As a back-up goalkeeper, Travers is not on huge amounts of money, but even at the Championship level, those Premier League contracts still can have quite a difference.

According to Capology, the Irishman is earning around £25,000 per week.

The same source also shares the list of Middlesbrough's wages, one of the teams that have emerged to take on Travers this summer.

And if the Everton number two were to make the move to The Teessiders, that would make him their joint-top earner.

Overall, if Travers is looking for first-team football, and it is only Championship sides willing to take him on, he may need to compromise on his salary.

Otherwise, it could prove very difficult for him to achieve his goal this transfer window.