12 February 2023 , 13:48
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Sean Dyche is keen for Jordan Pickford to sign a new Everton contract as soon as possible amid interest from the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham.
Pickford, 28, is out of contract next summer and the Toffees could be forced to sell him in the upcoming window if a new deal isn't agreed before. That will be difficult, as Everton are battling relegation. He will not commit himself before their fate becomes clear.
Pickford is England's first-choice goalkeeper after representing his country at two World Cups and Euro 2020. The former Sunderland stopper is also vastly experienced. He's made 375 clubs appearances, with 231 of those coming in the Premier League.
It is claimed Pickford is happy to stay at Goodison Park but wants his £100,000-a-week salary doubled. Offering such a wage will be not problem for the likes of United and Spurs, but relegation candidates Everton will struggle to bow to those demands.
"Jordan wants to stay at Everton," a source told The Sun. "He loves the place, and is settled in the area he lives.
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"But the club is not willing to meet the wage increase he is asking for. The player and his agent have asked Bill Kenwright and the board to at least meet them halfway. But the club is only willing to offer him a few thousand a week more than he’s currently earning.
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"The big problem they have is, of course, the fact that relegation is looming over their heads. It means they can't be budgeting for big wage increases when they might be in the Championship in 12 months time.
"Despite the risk of going down, Jordan is still willing to commit his future to the club now."
As reported by Mirror Football in January, Tottenham are interested in signing Pickford as a replacement for Hugo Lloris. The World Cup winner, 36, has struggled for form this season and recently suffered a knee injury - leaving Spurs short in that department.
United are also believed to be considering a move for Pickford. There are doubts over David de Gea's future and Erik ten Hag is an admirer of Pickford's ability with his feet. De Gea's deal expires in June, although United can extend that by a further 12 months.
Pickford is one of the best players outside of the Premier League's so-called "Big Six" and deserves a lot of credit for keeping the likes of Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale and Dean Henderson out of England's starting XI. Gareth Southgate is a big fan of Pickford.
"What is the stand-out thing is that he’s handled being the England No.1 really well," said Southgate on the eve of Pickford's 50th cap last December. "It’s not an easy role to have, there’s a lot of focus on it, a lot of spotlight... It's a fantastic individual achievement."