Jordan Pickford in line for improved Everton contract
Paul JoyceJuly 29 2018, 6:00pm,
Jordan Pickford is set to be offered a new contract at Everton as the club look to secure the long-term future of the England goalkeeper.
Everton will reward the 24-year-old with improved terms following an impressive first season at the club, which continued with his eye-catching performances at the World Cup.
Pickford has been linked with Chelsea amid rumours that Thibaut Courtois could move to Real Madrid in this transfer window, but Everton have no intention of selling their goalkeeper a year after paying Sunderland £30 million for him.
Instead, they will scrap Pickford’s existing contract, which has four years left to run, and present him with better terms to reflect his new standing.
Marco Silva, the new Everton manager, has yet to work with Pickford following the player’s time in Russia with England when he established himself as his country’s No 1 and rewarded Gareth Southgate’s faith.
Pickford has had two weeks off since England’s third-place playoff defeat to Belgium but will expect to start in Everton’s first Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
His return will boost Everton whose difficult pre-season continued with a 4-1 defeat to Rennes, of Ligue 1, on Saturday, although Richarlison, new £40 million signing, scored on his first start.
Everton face Valencia in their final friendly next Saturday and Silva will hope to strengthen his defensive options before then with a left back and a left-sided centre half still priorities.