Michael Owen delivers verdict on Everton valuation of 23-year-old
By Danny Wright
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has suggested that Everton might be spending over the odds for Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Sky Sports have reported that the Toffees have agreed a stunning £30million deal for the 23-year-old, which would make him the club’s record signing.
Pickford has enjoyed a brilliant season at the Stadium of Light, despite Sunderland suffering Premier League relegation, and has began to attract the attention of some of the top flight’s heavy hitters.
And Owen, 37, took to his personal Twitter account on Tuesday to hail the shot-stopper, and delivered his thoughts on how he thinks Everton will go about their summer business.
“I didn’t expect Jordan Pickford to command such a high fee but there’s no doubt he’s a huge talent,” said Owen. “I expect Everton’s spending to continue.”
Pickford has spent his entire career at Sunderland but only made his first senior first-team appearance last January in a 3-1 FA Cup loss to Arsenal.
He made 32 appearances across all competitions this term as the Black Cats finished bottom of the pile in the Premier League.
The ten-times former England Under-21 international kept just five clean sheets in those appearances, but managed to impress fans and pundits alike with his ability to limit the opposition’s goal scoring.
Everton are expected to endure a big summer of transfers, with the futures of Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley still shrouded in mystery.
Lukaku is currently the Toffees’ record signing from when they snapped him up from Chelsea for £28million in 2014.
In other Everton news, this £40,000-a-week Blues player has been earmarked by a Championship club.
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