‘Everton step up Mark Travers pursuit amid fresh Petrovic update’
Everton’s path to signing goalkeeper Mark Travers from Bournemouth appears to have been cleared with the latest update.
Jordan Pickford is among the top Premier League stoppers right now and has been key in preserving Everton‘s top-flight status in recent years.
However, the Toffees are in need of a deputy to Pickford, with both Joao Virginia and Asmir Begovic leaving at the end of their contracts this summer.
Everton clear to sign Mark Travers
The dominoes are about to fall when it comes to Premier League goalkeepers.
According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Bournemouth are closing in on the signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, who impressed on loan at French side Strasbourg last year — with Sunderland dropping out of that race in favour of Aaron Ramsdale or Sam Johnstone.
Petrovic will replace Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks for Andoni Iraola, with the Spanish stopper leaving after his loan spell last season and subsequently joining Arsenal.
In turn, that will allow Everton to complete a deal to bring Travers to Merseyside to serve as Pickford‘s back-up, while offering experienced competition to keep the England No.1 on his toes.
Everton need a younger goalkeeper
Football Insider verdict
Travers is a great signing for Everton as a No.2 goalkeeper. However, they will likely need to move for a third player between the sticks at a younger age this summer.
At present, the Toffees only have Pickford and Harry Tyrer in their senior squad, with the latter now 23 years old and yet to play a senior league match above League One level.
| 2024/25 Premier League stats | Jordan Pickford |
| Clean sheets | 12 |
| Goals conceded | 44 |
| Saves | 122 |
| Goals prevented | 6.15 |
| High claims | 31 |
| Errors leading to goal | 1 |
Pickford turns 32 next season and while that’s not old for a goalkeeper, he won’t last forever. And that’s not discounting any possible approaches from bigger clubs.
With that in mind, Everton might need to look around for goalkeepers in the 18-21 age bracket to make a long-term investment in, signing them at a lower price now and building them up to one day take up Pickford’s gloves.