Alex Smithies is happy at Queens Park Rangers – though his former Huddersfield boss Simon Grayson is still plotting a reunion at Sunderland.
Jordan Pickford is pretty much the epitome of the modern goalkeeper. Not only does the 23-year-old have the reflexes of a jungle cat, his distribution and skill on the ball is enough to make Pep Guardiola weep with admiration.
Throw in the fact he spent his entire career on Wearside and it’s clear that Sunderland have a huge void to fill in their starting XI. Pickford became the third most expensive goalkeeper in history when he joined Everton for £30 million last month, as reported by the BBC, and it appears the Black Cats are no nearer to finding a replacement.
Only Gianluigi Buffon and Man City new-boy Ederson cost more than Pickford
Their hopes of landing Manchester United’s Sam Johnstone appear to be over with the Daily Mail reporting that Aston Villa, who he represented on loan last season, are closing in on another temporary deal.
Now, Get West London claim Sunderland have turned their attention to Queens Park Rangers’ shot-stopper Alex Smithies – but they may already be fighting a losing battle attempting to lure him to the Stadium of Light.
Overly ambitious?
New Sunderland boss Simon Grayson knows Smithies well from their time at Huddersfield, once tipping him to earn full international honours with England, but a reunion appears unlikely.
The 27-year-old penalty-saving specialist signed a new deal until 2020 as recently as February amid reported interest from Aston Villa, while telling the Brent and Kilburn Times that he and his young family are more than happy with life in London.
Smithies’ fine performances earned him QPR’s Player of the Year award
And Get West London add that Smithies would only be tempted to leave if an offer came in from boyhood club Huddersfield, where he started his professional career – now they have reached the Premier League that is.
Therefore, the chances of him posing for photos at the Stadium of Light appear slim.
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