Everton are looking to remove their goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from the roster this summer, as per a surprising exclusive from the Daily Star.
Pickford had an inconsistent season, committing four errors leading to a goal, and has understandably failed to convince the new gaffer Carlo Ancelotti.
His poor run of form has been a cause of concern for Ancelotti and the Daily Star has claimed that the Italian could axe Pickford.
If the Toffees eventually strike him off their books, they will need to rope in an able replacement and here are three players they should try to sign to replace Jordan Pickford.
3 Potential Replacements For Jordan Pickford
Nick Pope
Burnley shot-stopper Nick Pope started every single league game for his side during the recently concluded campaign and earned a lot of plaudits for his excellence between the sticks. The 28-year-old ended up bagging 15 clean sheets and made 120 saves, which is quite remarkable.
Granted, Burnley are a team on the rise, but the Blues do have the financial muscle to lure him to Goodison Park. Besides, Everton are a much bigger club and the prospect of working under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti might tempt Pope to make a move this summer.
Thomas Strakosha
Having finished fourth in the final standings, Lazio emerged as a surprise package during the 2019-20 Serie A season. Although their formidable striker Ciro Immobile took away most of the spotlight with his impeccable attacking prowess, Thomas Strakosha’s reliable presence in goal has not gone unnoticed.
Strakosha has the ability to play the ball long and set up attacks quickly for his side and comes up with herculean saves on a regular basis. Having played the entirety of 38 league games for the Eagles, the Albanian conceded just 42 goals and could really be an upgrade over Pickford.
Neto
Owing to the presence of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in the Barcelona squad, Neto has found opportunities hard to come by. He made just 4 starts for Quique Setien’s underfire team in the recently concluded campaign and Barca might not mind letting him leave Camp Nou to reduce their wage bill, as they plan a massive overhaul.
The 31-year-old will have a much better chance of starting regularly if his move to Everton actually transpires and the move could benefit all the parties involved. Considering that the goalkeepers generally reach the peak late in their career, signing him will not be too much of a gamble.
Statistics Credits: premierleague.com and WhoScored