Manchester United are keen on acquiring the services of Everton shot-stopper Jordan Pickford and are preparing a £45 million bid.
According to Daily Star, Manchester United are interested in having Jordan Pickford in their ranks ahead of next season. The Red Devils are actively looking for a new shot-stopper and have their eyes on the Everton number one.
Pickford joined the Toffees back in the summer of 2017 after coming up the ranks at Sunderland. The 29-year-old goalkeeper managed to establish himself as a regular in their first team quite early and has since featured in over 235 matches.
The England international has kept 62 clean sheets for the Toffees and has been a key figure in their squad over the years. Despite the team’s struggles in the 2022-23 season, the 29-year-old managed to keep eight clean sheets in his 37 league outings.
Pickford played a big role in the team’s survival in the English top flight as they managed to avoid relegation on the final day of the season. The 29-year-old is amongst the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and he is on the radar of quite a few clubs.
While his contract at the club runs until the summer of 2027, the 29-year-old could be on the move given the financial condition of Everton. They have one of the biggest wage bills outside the top six and have been battling relegation for the past two seasons.
Sean Dyche is well aware of the fact that he needs to raise funds to balance the books. Meanwhile, Manchester United are also aware of the situation and are looking to exploit it. The Red Devils believe a £45 million offer for Everton’s number one will surely tempt them.
Meanwhile, David de Gea is yet to pen down an extension. And, with under two weeks left on his deal, United are in a complicated situation. They want Spain international to take a major pay cut from £375,000-a-week to just £200,000-a-week. However, De Gea is not ready to accept such a deal.
As a result, Erik ten Hag has started to look for potential replacement options. And, he has his eyes set on Pickford who will suit his system better. He will be an upgrade to the Spain international in terms of playing out from the back.
If they manage to land Pickford, United might even let De Gea leave for free as it will remove their highest earner off the wage bill. With under two weeks left on the Spain international’s contract, it will be interesting to see where he ends up playing his football next season.
