Everton tied up two new signings on deadline day last week, first landing defender Ben Godfrey from Norwich City.
The Toffees then secured a last-gasp loan deal for Robin Olsen, landing the Roma goalkeeper for the rest of the season.
Jordan Pickford has been unconvincing for a long time now, and Carlo Ancelotti has decided to raid his former club by bringing Olsen to Merseyside.
The 30-year-old has turned out for the likes of Malmo, PAOK, Copenhagen and Cagliari, and now heads to the Premier League to offer competition for Pickford.
Ancelotti is unlikely to ditch Pickford for this weekend’s Merseyside derby against Liverpool, but the idea of Olsen playing brings up an interesting sub-plot.
When Liverpool splashed out £67million to sign Alisson, Roma pounced to sign Olsen as his replacement, having been impressed with him at PAOK.
The Swede didn’t quite enjoy the same success as Alisson, but it seems that the pair actually have a strong respect for each other as they prepare to feature on opposite sides of Merseyside this season.
In November 2018, Olsen told Calciomercato that it was ‘not easy’ to come in and be expected to replace such a ‘strong goalkeeper’ like Alisson, admitting that it ws difficult to deal with that as few people knew who he was.
Alisson spoke highly of Olsen though, telling Roma’s official website in December 2018 that he had been watching Olsen in action, and felt he was ‘doing great’ at Roma before eventually being replaced.
The pair cross paths this weekend, and whilst Olsen isn’t at Alisson’s level, the Liverpool stopper – who will miss this weekend’s game through injury – has given an indication to Olsen’s quality, which should encourage Everton fans.
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