Tottenham have reportedly made Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford their priority target as a possible successor for Hugo Lloris ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to a report by The Sun, Jordan Pickford remains Tottenham’s No. 1 goalkeeper transfer target to replace long-serving captain Hugo Lloris in the summer, despite signing a new long-term contract with Everton.
Tottenham’s woes between the sticks have been well publicised this season. Hugo Lloris’s quality has fallen off a cliff this season after a decade of excellent performances in goal. The Frenchman is 36 years old and will be in the final year of his contract once the transfer window reopens in the summer.
He has made some costly blunders this term, and his error-prone performances have failed to convince the Tottenham fanbase that he can see out his full contract as Spurs’ first-choice. Moreover, the World Cup winner is currently on the sidelines after sustaining a ligament injury in early February.
Fraser Forster has deputised in goal for Spurs to a reasonable extent in Lloris’s absence. But with the Englishman also well into his thirties, Tottenham have seemingly identified the goalkeeper position as a priority ahead of the next season as they prepare for life without Lloris in the near future.
A number of solid options have reportedly been on the north London club’s radar. David Raya, Emiliano Martinez, and Pickford are among those on the list. Pickford, for one, seemed to have put any speculation over his future to bed after signing a new four-and-a-half-year deal with the Toffees.
In theory, the contract extension update should fend off suitors. But Tottenham are not ready to give up on their pursuit of England No. 1 just yet. Instead, Tottenham have made the 29-year-old their preferred pick of all goalkeeper options and intend to test Everton’s resolve for their prized goalkeeper at the end of the season, as per the above report.
While Pickford remains a polarising figure amongst fans, there is no doubting his distribution, vocal presence, and proven Premier League experience. If signed, he would represent a solid option at the back for Spurs.
Despite Pickford’s lengthy new contract, a summer switch might yet be in the offing. The Merseysiders are fighting relegation and are currently two points above the relegation zone. The Sun suggests if they are demoted, Everton’s hands could be tied, and they might be forced to sell their prized asset given his extravagant wages as per Championship standards.
His value seems to be heavily dependent on which division Everton will be plying their trade in next season. Should they do go down, Everton would reportedly still demand around £35 million, even though that price tag could be negotiated down. In contrast, if Everton stay up, that could be a spanner in the works for Tottenham, who have lined up Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez as a backup transfer target in that scenario.
