Jordan Pickford told to rip up new Everton contract amid as report emerges – pundit
Noel Whelan has urged Jordan Pickford to leave Everton for a club which better fits his status as “one of the best players in the world”.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 28-year-old “deserves to be playing in the Champions League” and is “standing out like a sore thumb” at Goodison Park.
According to the Daily Mail (27 December), Everton are yet to sign off on the five-year contract that Pickford agreed before the World Cup in Qatar.
The report claims interest has been shown in the England goalkeeper from the likes of Man United, Tottenham and Chelsea.
Despite reports of a delay, Frank Lampard told his press conference (via Football Daily, 23 December) that new deals for Pickford, Anthony Gordon, and Alex Iwobi are “close”.
The shot-stopper, who played a huge role in keeping the Merseysiders in the Premier League last season and looks set to reprise that role in this campaign, has just 18 months left to run on his current deal.
He has been between the sticks for England at the last three major tournaments.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “His heroics at the end of last season were fantastic.
“He’s standing out like a sore thumb at Everton right now with his performances, especially on the international stage as England’s number one.
“It’s looking like another relegation fight this season, when really he deserves to be playing in the Champions League.
“I thought that could have been his aspirations, as one of the best players in the world – because he’s definitely in that bracket. So it’s a strange decision to stay at Everton.
“I would say that your career as a footballer is very short, and I can’t see him winning anything at Everton.
“He’d have a much better chance at Tottenham and Chelsea, and I think he should be playing at the highest level.”
In other news, Gabby Agbonlahor issues “naive” Frank Lampard dig as BBC footage emerges.