Ronald Koeman brought Jordan Pickford to Everton last summer.
Ronald Koeman has told Sky Sports that Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford needs to improve.
Former Everton boss Koeman and Director of Football Steve Walsh brought the youngster to Goodison Park from Sunderland in a £30 million deal last summer.
And the 24-year-old has had an up and down first season on Merseyside in spite of the price-tag.
Nevertheless, Koeman, now in charge of the Netherlands, is confident that the former Sunderland keeper is well equipped to be a world beater, though admits there is work to be done.
He told Sky Sports: “We expected that we signed the new England number one. He’s still a young goalkeeper and he needs to improve, but already he is on that level and can compete with the Premier League’s best goalkeepers.”
At 24, Pickford is indeed still very young for a goalkeeper and it’s difficult to judge him based on this season, given how poor Everton have been.
The England international, who is vying with Joe Hart to be Gareth Southgate’s number one for this summer’s World Cup in Russia, hasn’t exactly had a settled back four in front of him all season, but going forward he is likely to prove himself a good signing by the Goodison Park side.
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