Jordan Pickford expected to agree deal after Everton transfer U-turn – pundit
Noel Whelan has insisted Jordan Pickford deserves a bumper new contract at Everton after his “heroic” end to the season.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 28-year-old is “one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League” – despite his performances often going “under the microscope”.
According to The Guardian (29 June), Pickford is set to open talks with Everton in the coming weeks over a new contract – with negotiations expected to “run smoothly”.
The report claims the England international had been touted for a potential exit, with the Toffees needing to offload players in order to meet Premier League profit and sustainability rules.
The goalkeeper’s current deal runs until June 2024.
Whelan insisted Frank Lampard will be looking to axe other sustainable assets after Pickford’s sensational end to the 2021-22 campaign.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “After last year and with how close it was, that rebuilding is starting – but you’ve got to start with players who are already at the club.
“Pickford has got a real influence at Everton – and it would have been very hard to justify getting rid of England’s number one goalkeeper.
“We saw the performances he put in last season. Sometimes it has been indifferent for him in an Everton shirt, but at the end of the season he was a hero for them.
“Lampard will be thinking: ‘How can we let someone go who has saved us so many points in a a season?’
“When you play in certain positions you get looked at under the microscope and being England’s number one just comes with that added scrutiny.
“I think he deserves this new deal. You can’t say that he’s not one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.“
In other news, expert issues Nathan Patterson axe claim amid £15m Everton transfer update.