Jordan Pickford’s Everton job is on the line with Sean Dyche now considering a replacement, according to Alan Nixon.
The journalist reported via his Patreon on 15 September that the England number one is under threat with Newcastle’s Nick Pope in his manager’s sights as the replacement.
Dyche is said to be unhappy with Pickford’s displays of late and will move for his former Burnley charge in January if form doesn’t improve, with Pope potentially available as the Magpies see Burnley’s James Trafford as an “ideal long term signing”.
Pickford has conceded 13 times so far this season as the Toffees have yet to record a point.
Everton boss eyes former Burnley man at Goodison
The club’s form has brought Dyche’s job into question in recent weeks [Telegraph, 13 September] so this might be part of his response.
It is difficult to say that Pickford is the biggest problem in the Everton side though, even if he did make a glaring error in the 4-0 loss at Tottenham last month.
However, nothing should be off the table after the second consecutive 3-2 loss from a winning position at Aston Villa left the Toffees rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.
But even if Newcastle are able to sign Trafford they surely aren’t going to let Pope go cheaply, so he could be out of Dyche’s reach come January.
As things stand the cash reserves at Goodison Park are predicted to start running out in a couple of months’ time [Kieran Maguire, 31 July], so unless the John Textor takeover suddenly surges ahead in that time it might be a moot point, in which case Dyche might not end up staying anyway [TBR Football, 13 September].
Pickford can’t be beyond reproach at Everton but he has been a vital part of avoiding successive relegation battles, so dropping him might be a risky and unpopular move.
It would necessarily draw huge focus as England’s long-term starter and would immediately make him a candidate to leave, and while Pope is a very capable keeper he is two years older the Pickford so would hardly make sense from a longevity perspective.
