Noel Whelan has urged Tottenham Hotspur to explore a deal for England and Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, claiming there is a very good chance they could secure the signing (Football Insider).
Pickford, who signed for Everton from Sunderland in the summer of 2017, has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and is comfortably the number-one option in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
While Everton have struggled of late, Pickford has consistently been one of the Toffees’ top performers. The 28-year-old now has 213 appearances for the Merseyside club (Transfermarkt), but rumours continue to link him with a potential move away.
It is believed that Spurs are looking at a succession plan to replace current number one and captain Hugo Lloris (Evening Standard) and journalist Graeme Bailey told TeamTalk that Jordan Pickford is on the North London side’s list of candidates to take over between the sticks.
TalkSPORT and The Telegraph have also linked Pickford with Spurs in the past, with the latter claiming Conte himself had picked the Everton man out as a target.
Pickford is currently at the World Cup with England, looking to add to his 46 caps for the national side (Transfermarkt). This is his third major tournament as his country’s first-choice goalkeeper.
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Speaking to Football Insider, pundit Noel Whelan suggested Spurs should make their move for Pickford sooner rather than later and believes there is a very good chance of bringing the shot-stopper to Tottenham.
He said: “When you’re losing a player of Lloris’ experience and quality, you’ve got to look for that international-grade replacement.
“I can’t see Jordan Pickford staying at Everton. He’s been loyal to them. They stayed in the Premier League by the skin of their teeth last season, it’s going to be another battle this season.”
Whelan sees a brighter future for Pickford, adding: “I think these kinds of top-quality players deserve to be at a top club. Pickford deserves to be fighting for honours. Spurs haven’t quite done that just yet, but it’d be a massive step in the right direction.
“Top players should be playing in the Champions League – and Everton aren’t going to do that. They need the money, as well, to make signings of their own. There is 100% a deal to be done here.”
Spurs Web Opinion
He’s never been my first choice to replace Hugo Lloris, but I would still be very happy to see Spurs sign Jordan Pickford. At club level, I think he does what he can with a shaky defence in front of him, while at international level he has been outstanding for England and would bring a lot of experience with him.
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