Everton have been linked with several goalkeepers this summer as speculation continues over Mark Travers' future
Orjan Nyland and Sam Johnstone have both been linked with potential moves to Everton over the past week
Orjan Nyland and Sam Johnstone have both been linked with potential moves to Everton over the past week
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Jordan Pickford, who won Premier League Save of the Season for the second time with his stunning late stop to keep out a volley from Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali in Everton’s 3-2 win at St James’ Park is at the peak of his powers, so just why are the Blues being linked to a string of goalkeepers this summer?
Despite being some eight years the junior of Peter Shilton when he played his last World Cup game, Pickford, 32, has just broken the record for the most matches from an England player in the tournament (winning his 90th cap against Norway was his 18th game in the competition across three finals) and should have plenty more miles on the clock before he hangs up his gloves.
Indeed, Everton’s now departed club captain Seamus Coleman, who exited the Blues at the end of last season after 17-and-a-half years’ service has tipped the former Sunderland man to eventually eclipse his own total for the most Premier League appearances for the Blues (Pickford is currently on 331, 43 behind the Republic of Ireland international and could climb from fifth to second in the table by the end of 2026/27).
Such is Pickford’s dominance, being his understudy can in many ways become a career cul-de-sac. The likes of Jim Arnold, Bobby Mimms, Alec Chamberlain, Mike Stowell and Jason Kearton all found themselves second fiddle to the immovable object that was Neville Southall during the Wales international’s 17-year stint at Goodison Park, winning more trophies and playing more matches for Everton than any other player.
Even when Llandudno’s greatest son was unsettled in 1990, the Blues were unable to get a transfer over the line for Egypt World Cup keeper Ahmed Shobeir – father of Mostafa Shobeir who was in goal for them in the current tournament – because they refused a work permit over fears the North African wouldn’t be first choice.
It’s a similar story now with Pickford. Southall once made a record 212 league starts for Everton and Pickford is currently third on the list behind Tim Howard (210) on 145.
Not since Carlo Ancelotti chopped and changed during the 2020/21 season which was mostly played behind closed doors due to Coronavirus-induced restrictions, has another keeper reached double figures for the Blues in all competitions over a campaign with Sweden international Robin Olsen turning out 11 times, including seven in the Premier League.
A year ago tomorrow, Mark Travers joined Everton for a £4million fee from Bournemouth. The Republic of Ireland international made 82 appearances in total for the Cherries, including a dozen in the Premier League in 2022/23 when he was Pickford’s opposite number on the final day as Abdoulaye Doucoure’s strike ensured the Blues avoided a first relegation in 72 years despite posting the lowest equivalent points total in their history.
However, Travers didn’t appear at all for Everton in the Premier League during the first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium with his game time restricted to a brace of Carabao Cup outings against Mansfield Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers. This lack of action is understood to have activated a clause in the 27-year-old’s contract that means he can leave if another club matches the amount that the Blues paid to bring him from the Vitality Stadium.
With David Moyes wanting to have a trio of senior keepers on the books, Everton have therefore been alert over being on the lookout for new potential deputies for Pickford. Karl Darlow, who has made 279 senior appearances, including a century or more for both Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, was linked to the Blues when his Leeds United contract expired but instead the 35-year-old Wales international has chosen to make the controversial switch across the Pennines to the Yorkshire club’s bitter rivals, Manchester United, where, even with Senne Lammens guilty of the blunder that saw Belgium knocked out of the World Cup by Spain after replacing the injured Thibaut Courtois, he looks set for more bench duty.
A report in the Daily Mail on Friday claimed Everton are assessing Sam Johnstone, himself capped four times by England, as an option to bolster their goalkeeping ranks. The 33-year-old from Preston commanded a £10million fee less than two years ago when he moved from Crystal Palace to Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were also the source of the Blues current number three keeper Tom King who was snapped up on August 15 last year.
Then, hot on the heels of Norway’s World Cup exit to Pickford’s England, their first choice at the finals Orjan Nyland was being linked to Everton. A report from El Desmarque in Spain claimed the 35-year-old who has previous experience in England with Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Reading and is a free agent after his three-year deal at Sevilla expired, has been sounded out by the Blues.
The article states while the move would be financially attractive, the sporting prospects are less compelling with Nyland likely to be relegated to a secondary role as back-up to Pickford. A key factor to Everton potentially being forced to go into the market surrounds their former manager Frank Lampard and his newly promoted Coventry City side that romped to the Championship title last season.
Halifax-born Carl Rushworth was an ever-present in goal for the Sky Blues in the second tier last term, playing in all 46 matches while on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. Coventry, the sixth club that the 25-year-old has been farmed out to, are in desperate need for a keeper as they prepare for top flight football following a 25-year absence.
The West Midlands outfit have already had two bids for Rushworth rejected, the second of which was in excess of £20million so if they cannot agree terms with the Seagulls then Travers could offer a much cheaper alternative and he already boasts Premier League experience. If and when Coventry, or another potential suitor make their move could also be intriguing given Pickford’s current absence on World Cup duty.
With players given a three-week break after they finish at the tournament, regardless of whether England win or lose against Argentina in their semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday, the keeper might not return until after Everton’s second game in Germany against Hamburg with a potential return for their penultimate friendly of the summer against old foes Newcastle United at Murrayfield. Imagine the reception Pickford would get if his first match back was playing against the Magpies in Scotland as an England World Cup winner?
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