With his current contract scheduled to expire in 2024, Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who is reportedly a transfer target for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, is likely to agree to a new deal with the Toffees. Pickford is reportedly close to signing a new contract with Everton since his current deal expires in 2024, according to Sky Sports. The two parties are still in the middle of the negotiations, and it is thought that an agreement is just around the corner.
The England international joined Everton in 2017 after moving there for $30 million from Sunderland. Since then, he has played 222 times for the club in all competitions, and there’s no debate he has been a key member of the team. There have been rumours concerning Pickford’s future due to the Toffees’ Premier League struggles this season, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur appearing as prospective destinations.
Pickford picks staying at Goodison Park over potential Manchester United move
Tottenham want to sign Pickford as a long-term replacement for their captain Hugo Lloris while Manchester United were considering him as a potential David de Gea replacement. Yet, as the summer approaches, this most recent development might push the two clubs to consider other options. Meanwhile, Pickford’s future at Goodison Park will also depend on how well Everton does in the Premier League. With 21 points, the Merseyside club is now in 16th place and one point above the relegation zone.
A host of goalkeepers were linked with Manchester United during the winter transfer window. They apparently considered Borussia Monchengladbach’s Yann Sommer and Porto’s Diogo Costa alongside Pickford as their top three targets, but ultimately decided to focus on other positions and pushed their plans of adding a shot-stopper until the summer. However, they did sign Crystal Palace’s Jack Butland on loan last month as deputy to De Gea.
While Sommer opted against waiting until the summer for the Red Devils and moved to Bayern Munich, Porto were reluctant to let Costa leave given the Portuguese goalkeeper had just signed a new, long term deal which runs until the summer of 2027. However, it seems now that United are set to miss out on their final and priority target as well with Pickford ‘keen’ to stay at Everton as per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The Italian revealed:
“Everton are closing in on agreement to extend Jordan Pickford contract, deal at final stages with the English GK — it’s imminent. Pickford, keen on signing new long term deal with clauses — final green light in the next days, as @_pauljoyce called.”
On the other hand, De Gea has since improved his form as well. The Spaniard has now consistently produced outstanding performances helping Manchester United fight on all four fronts in the Premier League, the FA Cup, League Cup and the Europa League.
While Ten Hag’s side is already into the final of the Carabao Cup where they face Newcastle on Sunday, they lock horns with Barcelona in the second leg of the Europa League elimination round after coming back to England with a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou, host West Ham in FA Cup round of 16 and are just considerably in the title race sitting just five points behind leaders Arsenal (who have a game in hand). Hence, it is unknown if United will go back to the market to find a competition for De Gea.