Danny Murphy believes Jordan Pickford may have to leave Everton to keep his World Cup hopes alive, telling talkSPORT (25 April, 12pm) that Newcastle United may offer the England international a Premier League lifeline.
Now, we’re not professing to speak for everyone on Tyneside, but it’s no exaggeration to suggest that former Sunderland shot-stopper is not going to be wining any popularity contests in and around St James’ Park.
Pickford is not only a former Black Cats’ hero. He’s also a dyed-in-the-wool Black Cats fanatic. Cut him and he bleeds, erm, red? Well, you know what we mean.
Should Everton tumble out of the top flight for the first time since 1951 – and that looks a very real possibility with a resurgent Burnley suddenly turning up to the party – Pickford will have one hell of a dilemma on his hands.
Especially with the Qatar World Cup now just a few months away.
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Murphy, the former Liverpool, Tottenham and England midfielder, believes that Gareth Southgate’s go-to number one will have his fair share of offers from Premier League clubs.
But Newcastle? Even Malcom Tucker himself would struggle to put a positive spin on that story.
“It would be hard for Gareth to choose a number one who’s in the Championship – even if he’s playing well – over someone who’s playing regularly in the Premier League, of similar quality,” Murphy says.
“I think that would be really difficult. I think he’d be putting his World Cup place in jeopardy (by staying at Everton if they’re relegated).
“You’ve got to remember that, if you have a couple of bad games in the Championship, then you definitely can’t be chosen for your country. You can be forgiven a little bit more if youre in the Premier League because of the opposition you’re up against. Maybe.
“I think it would be a huge conundrum for Jordan if Everton go down. One part of him would be thinking; ‘Stay and be loyal’. But if that’s gonna put your World Cup place in jeopardy… he’d have to have a conversation with Gareth.”
When pressed further on the clubs Pickford could join, one immediately came to Murphy’s mind.
“Newcastle, straight away,” he said.
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Now, Tottenham Hotspur have been linked on numerous occasions with Pickford of late and North London certainly feels like a more realistic destination for Everton’s Washington-born glovesman. Hugo Lloris will be 36 later this year, after all, while Pierluigi Gollini is returning to Atalanta after a forgettable loan spell in England.
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