Everton are reportedly interested in signing Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin, who came through Chelsea’s academy before becoming a key player for the up-and-coming Norweigian side.
According to the Telegraph, Frank Lampard’s side are eyeing the 27-year-old ahead of the January transfer window, with Haikin’s contract set to expire at the end of December as Everton look to sign a quality second-choice goalkeeper to challenge with Jordan Pickford.
Haikin spent a year in Chelsea’s academy before moving on to Portsmouth and then Reading before the Israel-born goalkeeper bounced around numerous clubs in his native country. Since 2019, though, the shot-stopper has been a key player for Bodo/Glimt and very much part of their incredible rise in European football.
The Bodo side won the Eliteserien title in 2020 and 2021 and have since gone on to gain quite the cult following, with the Scandinavian side beating the likes of AS Roma and Celtic in the UEFA Europa Conference league last season as Haikin also started in goal this week for Bodo/Glimt against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Whilst the Norweigian side lost 3-0 in their biggest European fixture to date, Haikin came away with a respectable performance against a strong Arsenal side. And now, Everton could sign the Bodo/Glimt star in January with the keeper’s contract set to expire in just over two months.
Indeed, with Pickford enduring an injury-hit season, signing a solid backup in the form of Haikin would be a good move from Lampard, who is seemingly not sold Asmir Begovic, whose contract at Goodison Park expires at the end of this campaign.
Everton signing Haikin would be strong squad management from Lampard
Bodo/Glimt have been one of the best stories to follow in European football over the past two years, and Haikin’s performances for the Eliteserien champions have been key behind their incredible rise. And for Everton, signing the Israeli would be a great move from Lampard and the Toffees’ as a whole.
After all, a good backup keeper for Pickford is something Everton should be looking to sign, and the 27-year-old Bodo/Glimt star is more than ideal to fill this role for the England international heading into 2023, especially with Begovic leaning towards the exit door.
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