Sources: Everton to sell senior player to go after Real Madrid made move
Everton are ready to tell Maarten Stekelenburg to find a new club as they plot a new goalkeeper signing, Football Insider understands.
The former Holland number one, 37, was deputising undisputed number one Jordan Pickford before the lockdown but is out of contract at the end of the season.
An Everton source has told Football Insider that the club are looking at signing a new keeper to provide competition for Pickford.
They signed Jonas Lössl on a free transfer from Huddersfield Town last summer but he was unhappy with his fringe role and was loaned back to the Championship outfit in January.
Carlo Ancelotti is keen to have a proven and senior alternative to Pickford to keep him on his toes and challenge his position.
The England number one has made some high profile errors since his starring role in the 2018 World Cup.
Stekelenburg has been on the bench for more than half of Everton's Premier League matches this season but he has not had a single minute of action and last played in October 2018.
Real Madrid contacted him about his interest in a shock transfer last summer as they negotiated the sale of Keylor Navas.
But the Dutchman was not Real's first choice to replace Navas and they eventually negotiated a deal in which the Costa Rican was sold permanently and Alphonse Areola headed the other way on a season-long loan.
Stekelenburg has made just 26 appearances for Everton since signing in 2016, but has extensive experience at the top level for Ajax, Roma, Southampton. Fulham and Monaco.
He has also accumulated 58 caps for the Holland national team and was their first choice at the 2010 World Cup.