Everton should have brought in Ben Foster from Watford as cover for the struggling Jordan Pickford, former Premier League goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has told talkSPORT.
Less than two weeks ago, Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti made it clear he wasn’t looking to sign a goalkeeper in the transfer window (Liverpool Echo).
Talk about a U-turn.
Ten days later, after the latest in a long line of Pickford blunders during Everton’s thrilling 4-2 triumph over Brighton and Hove Albion, Swedish shot-stopper Robin Olsen was completing a deadline day move to Goodison Park.
The 30-year-old arrives with plenty of pedigree but, after a couple of hugely disappointing seasons at Roma, doubts persist over whether Olsen is capable of challenging Pickford for a place in Ancelotti’s starting XI.
According to Kirkland, the early Premier League pacesetters may have been better off signing a man with 364 top-flight appearances on his CV.
“I think (Foster) is a superb goalkeeper,” the former Liverpool and Wigan man told talkSPORT.
“Yes, he got relegated with Watford, but I’ve worked with Ben and he’s a great lad and a brilliant goalkeeper.
“I actually thought Everton should have signed him in the summer to give Jordan some competition, which I think he needs because he hasn’t really got that at Everton.
“No disrespect to the other keepers there, but he knows he’s number one and probably not going to get dropped. I think Everton should have gone for Foster.”
Foster will be 38 by the time the 2020/21 campaign ends but there’s plenty of life left in the old dog yet.
The one-time Manchester United stopper was one of the most impressive goalkeepers in the league last season, even if Watford’s five-year spell in the division came to a disappointing end.
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