Everton have no interest in replacing Jordan Pickford as first-choice goalkeeper despite interest in one of the Championship’s top performers.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
The Toffees’ start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign could not have gone much worse, with four defeats from four matches.
This is despite going 2-0 up in their previous two games, against Bournemouth and Aston Villa, before going on to lose both 3-2.
What is particularly concerning for Everton fans is that Sean Dyche’s teams are supposed to be defensively solid and yet they have conceded 13 Premier League goals – four more than any other team.
This has led to questions over goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who could have done more to prevent some of those goals.
Everton rule out Jordan Pickford exit
Pickford has come under criticism for his performances in recent weeks and some have even suggested that Everton would be wise to look at replacements.
HITC can reveal that the Toffees do not see it that way. Indeed, Everton sources have dismissed suggestions that they would even consider moving on from Pickford – he is a key player for them.
We are also told that the club’s prospective new owners also see Pickford as crucial.
That being said, we understand that Everton are looking at signing a goalkeeper but only as a backup for the England international.
The Merseyside club’s current number two is 24-year-old Joao Virginia, who has never offered much competition to Pickford.
He has only made one Premier League appearance for Everton since joining from Arsenal in 2018.
Everton and Liverpool interest in Sunderland goalkeeper
HITC can also report that one of the players on Everton’s goalkeeper shortlist is Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson.
Patterson has been in fine form so far this season, keeping three clean sheets in five games with the Black Cats in the automatic promotion places.
The 24-year-old was also an integral player in the last campaign, playing in all but one of Sunderland’s 46 Championship fixtures, leading to interest from Manchester City this summer.
Patterson is on Liverpool’s radar, too, as they prepare for the likely departure of Caoimhin Kelleher in 2025.
The Ireland international, who was wanted by Nottingham Forest last month, has been Alisson Becker’s understudy for several years and will want to prove himself as the first choice at another club sooner rather than later.
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