Aston Villa are reportedly interested in a move for Everton and England stopper Jordan Pickford with their current number one Emi Martinez attracting interest following his World Cup exploits.
According to the British tabloid The Sun, Aston Villa are keeping tabs on Jordan Pickford’s contract situation at Everton. Villa are concerned that they may lose their World Cup winner and their current number one, Emiliano Martinez, to one of the European big guns.
Martinez, who was on the Arsenal books for nine years but saw little action, has been with the Villans since arriving in a £20 million deal from the Emirates in September 2020. The switch to Villa Park has really kick-started his previously flailing career.
Regarded as one of the most reliable, enigmatic, and charismatic goalkeepers in the English top flight, the Argentina international has racked up 91 appearances in all competitions and has been an ever-present figure in between the sticks for the Lions.
After impressing on the domestic scene, he earned his first cap for Argentina in 2021 and subsequently cemented his place as La Albiceleste’s number one, playing a starring role in their 2021 Copa America success and the recent 2022 World Cup triumphs as Argentina snapped their long-running trophy drought in stunning fashion by lifting two major trophies in the span of 12 months or so.
The former Arsenal star was a key performer for Argentina in Qatar and was awarded the Golden Glove for being the tournament’s best goalkeeper thanks to his dark arts of getting into the penalty-takers’ minds. His performances have led to increased speculation, with top clubs circling around his doorstep following his World Cup heroics, with Bayern Munich amongst the clubs that are interested in his signature.
Martinez still has four-and-a-half years left on his current deal at Villa Park, which puts the club in a strong negotiating position if any suitor comes knocking this month. But that will not deter them from considering other alternatives if they receive an irresistible offer for the 30-year-old goalkeeper during the winter window.
And The Sun states Toffees’ in-demand shot-stopper Jordan Pickford is top of their list of potential replacements, but they have to beat out stiff competition from the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea to land the England shot-stopper’s services.
Sunderland-born Pickford has been with Everton since his £25 million move in the summer of 2017 and has kept an impressive 57 clean sheets in 215 appearances across all competitions, helping the club stay afloat during a tough time on the blue half of Merseyside.
The 28-year-old is under contract at Goodison Park until the summer of 2024. The Toffees have been readying a new long-term deal for the former Sunderland man for a long time now. However, while Pickford is happy to stay at Everton, he has yet to put pen to paper, leaving the door open for other clubs to sneak in and land the talented goalkeeper.
Pickford is an elite-level goalkeeper, and it’s highly unlikely he would be keen to leave Everton for Aston Villa in a sideways move amid interest from Champions League-level clubs. So, it would be a big surprise if ends up at Villa Park.