Report: Everton interested in goalkeeper who has saved penalties from Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar

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Spanish outlet El Desmarque claim that Everton are interested in signing Real Sociedad’s Geronimo Rulli this summer.

The Toffees have had their issues in goal over the last two years. Jordan Pickford, England’s hero in the 2018 World Cup, has had his problems ever since he returned from Russia.

The Englishman has committed eight errors that have led to goals since the start of the 2018/19 season, no other player in the Premier League has a worse a record in that period. (PremierLeague.com)

Pickford is still a quality goalkeeper who has bailed Everton out on multiple occasions. The Englishman needs some serious competition to keep him on his toes, something that the Toffees don’t have at the moment.

Jonas Lossl has returned from his loan spell at Huddersfield Town while young Joao Virginia is Everton’s third choice goalkeeper heading into the new season.

Carlo Ancelotti is right to look for a new goalkeeper and the report claims that he has identified Rulli. The Argentinian spent last season on loan in France at Montpellier where he conceded just 27 goals in 28 games.

Real Sociedad have four goalkeepers in their ranks and they are desperate to get rid of Rulli. The report claims that Everton are interested in him and want to him bring him him in for a fee less than £9 million.

The Argentinian has a release clause of about £35 million but Sociedad would be willing to let him leave for a fee much lower than that. However, the report claims that his salary demands have proved to be a problem to the likes of Celta Vigo, Real Valladolid and Valencia in this window.

Everton shouldn’t have too many problems meeting his wage demands and he would be a very good signing. The 28-year-old is a very good shot-stopper and he boasts a very good record penalty record against a few of the best in the game.

Rulli has saved penalties from the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alexandre Pato, Neymar and Antoine Griezmann in the past, something that he has spoken about proudly over the years.

He told Marca earlier this year: “It’s a unique feeling. Ronaldo, Neymar and Messi, the world’s best players, took penalties against me. I managed to get the better of all three of them and I’ll be able to tell my children and grandchildren about it.”

Everton will benefit from two quality goalkeepers battling it out for a starting spot every day. The Argentinian’s arrival will push Pickford to his best which can only be a good thing for the Toffees next season.