Everton reportedly considered Stephane Ruffier before moving for Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford.
General view before the game
According to Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, Everton considered a move for Saint-Etienne’s Stephane Ruffier before making a bid for Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford.
The Toffees saw long-serving goalkeeper Tim Howard leave the club last summer in order to return to the United States with the Colorado Rapids, and manager Ronald Koeman swooped to land Maarten Stekelenburg as his replacement.
The 34-year-old worked with Koeman at Ajax and Southampton, and has been in and out of the side this season, with the Everton boss seemingly not sold on either Stekelenburg or Joel Robles as Everton’s long-term goalkeeper.
Many expect Everton to splash the cash on a new goalkeeper this summer, and Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio reports that the Toffees have already offered £18million for the services of Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Manchester United’s Juan Mata shoots wide under pressure from St Etienne’s Stephane Ruffier
Pickford has been one of the shining lights in Sunderland’s season, and it’s believed that Everton now want him to become their new first-choice goalkeeper, with the Toffees wasting no time in making their move for the 23-year-old following Sunderland’s relegation to the Championship.
However, it’s claimed that Pickford wasn’t the only goalkeeper Everton strongly considered as their top transfer target between the sticks, as Saint-Etienne’s Stephane Ruffier was also thought about, along with Joe Hart.
Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford
Ruffier, 30, racked up more than 100 appearances for Monaco before joining Saint-Etienne in 2011, and he has played almost 250 games for the Ligue 1 side, earning three France caps in the process.
Touted as one of the top goalkeepers in French football, Ruffier has often been linked with a move to England, and his record of 15 clean sheets in 38 games in all competitions this season appears to have caught Everton’s attention.
However, Everton appear to be going down the ‘homegrown’ route instead, moving for Pickford as their first choice – but if Sunderland reject their move, we could yet see Everton return with a new move for Ruffier.
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