Manager discusses reported £32m Everton target; confident he won’t leave

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Valencia coach Javi Gracia is confident Jasper Cillessen will stay at the La Liga outfit despite reported interest from Everton, he told Marca.

While Jordan Pickford produced the perfect response to his growing army of critics with a fine performance in the 1-0 opening day win at Tottenham Hotspur, the headlines suddenly turned negative again in midweek.

The England number one was at fault for both goals Everton conceded in a 5-2 Carabao Cup victory over Fleetwood Town and, as a result, the demand by fans for a new goalkeeper has grown.

Marca reported this week that Everton had made a move for Cillessen – albeit one that failed to reach Valencia’s demands of a £32 million transfer fee.

But with Carlo Ancelotti today suggesting Everton won’t sign a shot-stopper after all, Gracia can start to rest a little easier (Liverpool Echo).

“I think the players I have will be there (at the end of the window),” the former Watford coach said when asked about Cillessen’s potential departure.

“But what will happen in the next few days, I do not know.”

Of course, nothing is ever certain at a Valencia side that continues to leap from crisis to catastrophe with alarming regularity.

The cash-strapped Castellon club has been forced to sell so many star players already this window, with Ferran Torres, Rodrigo Moreno, Francois Coquelin and captain Dani Parejo already leaving the Mestalla.