Conte may want to lure Pickford to Spurs

A surprise story doing the rounds is linking Spurs with Jordan Pickford as a possible replacement for Lloris, whose contract runs out in 2022.

I can't see it myself, but you never know.

Barry,

Luckily Louis Saha isn't still here to publicly encourage him to join Spurs – like he did with Pienaar.

Another unsettling story from the biased London and Manchester media following Calvert-Lewin's supposed move to Arsenal or Spurs.

What I would like to know is how Spurs got away with applying for a Covid handout and yet are the club with the most disposable spending power now?

As Barry said, I can't see it myself, but you never know.

Pickford and Calvert-Lewin for £100Mill plus Harry Kane.

Well, if we're all playing silly buggers...

Right on cue as well, Jay. We've got Man City, The Red Shite and Arsenal on the horizon, never fail to run a story about our top players wanted elsewhere, just before fixtures against their darlings.

Phase one, unsettle Pickford with talk of a move.

Phase two, just before the derby, drag up the Virgil incident to unsettle Pickford even more.

Phase three, if Calvert-Lewin is back for the derby, expect a link to Arsenal to re-emerge, just before we play Arsenal.

Media do it every year, just before we play their darlings.

I'd sell at the right price. In fact... there isn't any of this squad I would be too bothered about if we sold them.

They can have Pickford. But I'd draw the line at Rondon.

Paul,

First principles of any ambitious club: "Don't sell your best players."

Look at how much we have missed Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin and Doucouré when out injured.

Seems an unlikely move because he'd be so expensive for Spurs – not less than £50M. I expect they'll get someone in from Serie A for half that or less.

Really we have to hang on to our top performers if at all possible – and Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Mina could all be off at the end of this season unfortunately.

No way. Stacks of cash can't stop shots.

Sad to hear Paul saying "I'd sell at the right price". There was a day when you would dread a team coming in for your better players but he is spot on.

Could we replace him? Probably, yes, and he's one of our best players. What does that say about our quality?

I can honestly say there are only a few in this current Everton team who I would be sad to see go and they are Ben Godfrey (based on what he might become), Digne, Richarlison and Doucoure.

Calvert-Lewin? Not sure about him if I'm honest. We're missing him for sure but would I be sad to sell him for good money? No.

Under the previous manager, I recollect that Pickford was rotated due to his erratic form. Given that Everton seem very vulnerable from set-pieces, particularly corners, either he, the manager, his tactics, defenders are at fault. However, seems to a problem that has many sources – including the numerous changes of manager in recent years.

Personally, I believe Pickford is not near the standard of the best keepers I have seen at Everton: West, Southall, Martyn – and he is unlikely to meet that standard. However, unless a better replacement has been identified and can be quickly bought, then it would be unwise to sell.

For Pickford, though, if he wishes to retain his No 1 England status, it would be a wise move.

If we have to sell, and I suspect we do, it will have to be Richarlison.

We have no backup for Calvert-Lewin (Kean out on a 2-year loan), Pickford (Virginia, who I thought was developing nicely, out on loan with option to buy), Doucouré, Digne (Nkounkou out on loan). Also Gray and Townsend, while not in the same league, could do a similar job.

If, as rumoured, Mbappe is off to Madrid, then there is a ready-made place for Richarlison in Paris.

I don't know which Paul is the saddest post to read:

a) Get rid because none of the current crop are up to scratch; or
b) Pickford would be wise to move in order to retain his England place.

Every and any player has a price and will be sold if it suits the selling club, from that perspective I gave up becoming attached to players a very very long time ago.

I know that Pickford has come in for a lot of unjustified stick in the last 18 months to two years, but as yet it hasn't stopped the national manager from choosing him more often than not. To suggest that leaving Everton will enhance Pickford's international ambitions is the sort of silly stuff I'd expect to read in the tabloids and not from a fellow Evertonian on an Everton fan-site.

Spurs are shite, worse than us in fact.

I can't wait for Conte to put his straightener on Billy big bollucks Levy! Ends in tears for Spurs, with any luck!

Whatever a few of our own fans believe, Pickford is the best keeper in the UK and amongst the very best in the world. Only a small club would sell an asset like Pickford, it would define us.

For sure everybody has a price, though, and maybe if it were £60M? Who knows? Pickford is a superb shot-stopper and perhaps worth 15 points a season or more over a poor keeper.

£70M? I would say Yes and go with our blessings.

Martin (16), is that one of your facts or opinions?

David Seaman, despite having legs that seemed to not be able to leave the ground and incapable of getting near the ball outside his 6-yard box, had a long England career that he would not have had if based outside the capital.

I would suggest that Pickford has retained his England place because of his form in England internationals and tournaments rather than his club form. Although I am of that generation when making saves, catching the ball and giving the your defence and supporters confidence was the sign of a good goalkeeper.

As a "sweeper-keeper", Pickford is good but, like Tim Howard, there does seem to be some big flaws in his game and a costly error is as likely as a great save in a "big game".

I'm not at all convinced that Conte will outlast Lloris.

Bill Gienapp,

You may well be right ther.e

Barry 14 is right ultimately every player has a price: £100M – he's sold; £50M – we'll think about it; £25M – do one!

Levy is tighter than a gnats arsehole, so there's no mileage in this one. I suppose it is getting close to Panto season though...

Pickford's going to Tottenham?
"Oh yes he is? … "Oh no..."

Tony #21.

This is Everton, so based on your pricing it will probably be: £100M – do one; £50M – we'll think about it; £25M – he'll be sold...

Steve@13, and any others looking for something to read, if you get a spare 10 mins, have a look on the Don't Blame Benitez for Everton Malaise, the answer lies higher above.

I have added a good link on my post @52 on that thread, about the Blue Union and the Everton board, well worth a read, and 10 years on from that, we have not learned anything.

What did Liverpool pay for Allison again? What did Chelsea pay for a top keeper that rarly plays?.T

To sell an English talent at 27 years of age and with 10 years easy on his clock: £80M plus.

As a replacement, have a close look at Peacock-Farrell of Sheffield Wednesday. Solid as a rock, calm, confident, has it all.

Levy won't sanction the kind of fee needed to tempt the Club to consider selling Pickford.

John Conte was a scouse boxer. His brother silly has taken over managing Spurs.

Agree, Dennis #25.

This one falls at the first hurdle due to Daniel Levy's unwillingness to pay the going rate. This bit of tittle-tattle comes round though at a time when Pickford appears to be more composed than at any time in is Everton career. It is just so 'Everton', isn't it?

It could also be the case that Spurs are competing with Newcastle for players come January and, if so, this might put a further premium on player valuations.

I also think Lloris is the least of Conte's concerns – their defence is pony, and the entire team appear bereft of creativity and ambition. They are about on a par with us right now, only we have at least the hope of our key players returning.

Brian #23. Thanks mate, good read, as you know I can fill in the gap!!!

Glad you enjoyed it, Steve, enjoy the Man City game, mate.

Paul #18: "a costly error is as likely as a great save in a "big game"."

I could not disagree more, to the point of wondering what the hell you've been watching. Pickford is always good for the big save, as we've seen five or six times this season, and his "costly errors" have become very few and very far between. And at 27 he's still improving and not yet in a keeper's prime.

Instead of Nev and Nigel (who came to us at age 37), I'd suggest comparing him to the other keepers today in the Premier League. Ask yourself honestly who you would trade him for, straight up. I'll bet there are very few you'd rather have.

I slagged him mercilessly not so long ago but, as Mike Gaynes has proposed @ 30, he has made some terrific saves this season and I can't remember his last serious mistake. However, I'd much rather see him go than Richarlison.

Nevertheless, Mr Levi, £40M plus Lloris and you have got a deal.

Mike #30.

I posted that really for the admittedly pretty crap pun but I actually am in complete agreement with you, ie, who does he think he is assuming we'd let Pickford go?

Also, I fully agree with Brian's post at #5. It's media bull which happens every season on cue.

Phil (#24), genuinely, what is it in Peacock-Farrell that you see as a 'keeper for a trophy-winning team in the Premier League?

I mean he's just two years younger than Jordan but has made only 60 starts in a first team, and then always in lesser leagues.

I'm really curious, never having heard of him – what are his talents?

Jordan has improved no end since half way through last season. 3 years off a keeper's peak, he will get better and then mature some too. Keepers do that.

Schmeichel. Now 35, having not made it at Man City and floated around before joining Leicester City and won the league aged 30. Still one of the best keepers in the league in my opinion.

We've been quick to criticise Jordan (myself included) for individual costly errors in his first few seasons... But now he's calmed down (previously his main problem), he is developing into a very good No 1. And bigger picture, he was 23 / 24 when he joined us. More so than young centre-backs, you have to be patient with most of them, as frustrating as that can be.

As a few have rightly called out, for those who didn't witness Gordon West and his long throws (my Dad used to tell me about them), Nigel Martyn was second only to Southall in what I've seen and we had him from 37 on. To think if we'd offered him more than a couple of Park Foods hampers, he may have not jumped that taxi to Leeds and been ours sooner.

Is it truth or rumour that nether Peter Johnson or Joe Royle were present to meet him when he turned up to sign his contract? Apparently his preference was Everton. Don't know if that's just urban myth though.

Niall @27. I'll agree with you on Levy's unwillingness to pay the going rate.

But don't underestimate Everton's willingness to be seen off and sell under the going rate.

A potential perfect storm brewing?!!

Danny, neither of the two main players having been present on signing Nigel Martyn suggests it was entrusted to the self-proclaimed Greatest Ever Evertonian to seal the deal.

What could possibly have gone wrong?

Mike Gaynes @30,

Have to agree with you but I think, like the biblical Samson, the key is in his hair. When he cut it he lost his power; now he's gone for the River Phoenix middle-parting look, his powers have returned. If he keeps letting it grow like Rapunzel, he'll be unbeatable.

He's England number one keeper with 42 caps, Allison cost £67m and Arrizabalaga cost £72 million.

Start the bidding at £80 million.

Here's something strange and un-Everton like. Tell the syrup wearing Spurs fella that we will be overtaking the likes of them in the next two windows. Same with Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison until we are good and ready with nailed-on replacements that make us stronger.

We know that's totally alien strategy with the buffoon(s) behind the scenes but I'm still hopeful Moshiri will see this and get professional people in – shock, horror!

Don 33...

I have been following Northern Ireland for years, see some bargin gems from time to time.

Evans I shouted for years to snap up. Peacock-Farrell has been my player of the campaign, clean sheets in every group game this campaign, pulled off some outstanding saves and has bred confidence to his defence. He was my MotM against Italy the other night.

Again I watched him for Sheffield Wed in the FA Cup match live on BBC a few weeks back; again he got MotM. Ask a few Wednesday fans for their opinions. But this is the type of signing we used to make rather than £30mill plus nobodies.

A bit like Coleman, Cahill, Barry – signing him would prove to be a bargain.

Peacock-Farrell is on loan from Burnley. He played a few games towards the end of last season when Pope was out injured. He was very unconvincing, to the point where Dyche dropped him and played another keeper whose name escapes me. I'd never heard of him before.

As for, potentially, replacing Pickford... if we're selling to raise money to improve the squad then we need a cheap, reliable and proven keeper. Not many about but what about Robin Olsen? I was impressed with him last season and read he was available for less than £10M.

I know he's on loan at Sheffield United this season, but I'm not sure how he's been playing? But at 6 ft - 5 in, good with his feet and cheap, then I think we could do a lot worse.

Personally, I'd tell Spurs to Fuck Off as Jordan is on his way to becoming a top goalkeeper.

Brian @23,

You're right, Brian, different day, same shit. We haven't learned too much.

It was sad that during those times so many supporters were so adamant we were protesting against the board not the Club as such.

Even today during conversation it surprises me how the same animosity raises it's head.

Facts which were available then and still, today, ignored.

Pickford was good in his first season for us and then mostly very poor until picking up his form over last 18 months or so.

Whilst he's been much better recently and his distribution is excellent at times, I would still not be too worried by his departure. Statistically he's still not comparing that favourably with the top goalkeepers in Europe in terms of saving shots that he's ‘expected' to save.

FFP restrictions mean that we will likely need to make a sale or two this summer if we are to spend anything significant. 2 years ago, I would have bitten your hand off for £30M for Pickford. If we were to get £40M+ I think it would definitely be worth considering. I reckon we could get a replacement who is as good for less than half of that; though of course that relies on good recruitment which has been in short supply for us!

Okay. Let's start the bidding... Nothing short of £150 million and put the bastards off the trail. Maybe £100M plus Kane (TIC).

Sorry Steve@38

I suspect at some point we’re going to have to sell one of our better players in order to raise funds as nobody is going to buy our flops. What worries me is that I don’t trust whoever is spending the money to replace them.

A lazy journo story. Everton are cash-strapped and Pickford is valuable.

I'm with Mike Gaynes. Pickford has mave some terrific saves this season and I can't think of a single goal that was his fault. He isn't perfect, but neither are any of the other keepers out there.

I imagine that we will limp through the rest of the season banking on our best players returning from injury. We may pull a rabbit out of the hat in January in the same vein as Townsend or Gray but I can't see us cashing-in on a major asset during the season.

I think Richarlison will be off to pastures new in the summer, giving the manager a few bob to spend.

I get that, Danny (#35), and if Pickford is to be sold, then it should not be for a penny less than £60 million IMO.

I would have thought Conte would be more in the market for a young (perhaps Italian?) up-and-coming keeper rather than looking to replace Lloris immediately?

That said, I think this story is pure lazy journalism anyway. There is plenty of it about at the moment, there always is following the international break.

We all know our players get thrown in the mix to leave, just as our tough fixtures are on the horizon – just wait till the Virgil van Dijk thing goes into even more overdrive leading up to the derby, with good old Everton fans not keen on Benitez.

They never miss a trick in the book to cause maximum bullshit and try to put our morale down.

I am surprised no-one has picked up the Pickford to Spurs yet, not just to unsettle Pickford, but they have threw two into the mix this time, with talk of the Arsenal keeper vying for the England number one spot. They use Arsenal's big rivals, Spurs, as the team after Pickford, to stir it up in London as well.

Not sure there is too much in this one but, if we don't see some major improvement on the pitch sooner rather than later, Pickford, Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison will have their heads turned by somebody.

Andrew, would they be such a big loss, genuine question? Would £150M for both say be better spent elsewhere or are they over-hyped?

I think Doucoure's presence is massive for the team but everybody else is replaceable for the right price.

I saw somebody else mention on this thread "Don't sell your best players." I disagree, it's all about the team. An example was Liverpool cashing in on Coutinho who was by far their best player when he left. All about team.

I am surprised that anyone would think there is any credibility in one media reporter's claim about any player being transferred.

If any manager or club representative is being interviewed then the interviewer will exaggerate anything if it will help sell the newspaper or his own personal reputation.

This, of course, becomes more prevalent when the transfer window approaches and usually involves big names for greater impact.

Most of us will see through this kind of crap reporting and await something positive from the club.

How many players have been named around the transfer window as having been signed or ready to sign for a new club only for nothing to happen especially where Everton are involved?

I cannot see Everton signing anyone in the next transfer window, especially involving big money.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucouré are not better players than the ones we sold, ie, Gueye and Lukaku, although both are integral to the present team and therefore would, if sold, be missed.

Could we trust a regime – one that has singularly failed to find a right-back even though one has been required for a few years – in finding players to replace those two players for a smaller fee than we received and of a similar quality?

If you have a team that is nearly complete, then you can afford to gamble and sell a star player and use the money to fix the issues in other areas of the side.

Everton's team is not of that quality and therefore any sale of star players makes it more difficult to build a side that can compete... effectively. I've no doubt that one or even two of our better players will be sold before next year's World Cup takes place, possibly Richarlison being the most likely to leave.

Listening to Benitez speaking to Leon Osman, I believe he sees Dominic Calvert-Lewin as his main striker and wants to build the team around him, which is primarily why he purchased Townsend and Gray. Everton might be able to withstand the loss of Richarlison, but I don't think it could afford to lose Dominic and/or Doucouré too.

We should keep our best players in their prime.

Let's be honest, we aren't savvy enough to spend any income on decent players anymore.

Peter #50.

The Coutinho sale is a good point. It gave the RS the chance to improve an already high class side. Where we differ is that we might be selling 3 of our few good players in Mina, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin this summer. That means the fees coming in need to pay for replacements and reinforcements, because our squad lacks any depth of quality.

Whereas the Coutinho sale proceeds could be spent adding top quality in just a few key positions to a squad that had good quality depth. I'm generally of the view that it's wise to sell on a top performer now and again, to reinvest in the squad.

But there's a danger in selling most of your best players in one go – especially if you don't have many good players in the first place.

Our track record in spending money is also a worry!

Another consideration, a player may be really pushing to get away. Also, the amount of contract time left has to be considered. Sometimes circumstances dictate that it is in the best interest of the club to sell at the highest price possible.

Then (in theory!) reinvest wisely.

Any club with ambition does not sell its best players unless the player is determined to go.

Personally I think this is a bullshit story aimed at undermining a club they see as a threat to Arsenal and Spurs (part of the media darlings set).

I think Pickford is a good keeper but he couldn't hold a candle to big Nev.

There are a few decent options if the situation came up:- Dean Henderson, Nick Pope, Bounou at Seville, Maignan at Lille and dare I say Blake from MLS. (American keepers aren't too shabby as they grow up in sports that usually require good use of hands. LOL.)

The director who met Nigel Martyn was Clifford Finch. As confirmed by Martyn himself. Nothing to do with Kenwright as falsely suggested in post 36.

False allegations and foolish ill-informed criticism of Kenwright dilutes the credibility of knowledgeable fans with genuine concerns. Those who support Kenwright will take blind, ill-informed and clearly false criticism with a pinch of salt.

The boy who cried wolf.

Can we trust anything Nigel Martyn says? After all, he made this outrageous statement in the aftermath of the ESL scandal.

“Bill Kenwright is a man with huge integrity, and I think he would have been the guy with his heart said it's not what we should be doing,” said Martyn.

Darren (57),

Why do you have to use the word "foolish" so often when describing people who have a different viewpoint to yours? It's a play straight out of the Trump playbook and I find it highly objectionable.

Everybody has a market value, and it seems we will need to sell at least one of our more valuable players - so, if Spurs or anyone else offers the top end of what Pickford's realistic value is, then perhaps he'll be the one out the door.

Martyn confirms he met Finch at Park Farms. It was left to this director to deal with and I think he was told it would be a formality.

On arrival, my agent said "Nigel is going to talk to Leeds as well. But just to make it clear, Everton is his preferred destination."

Clifford Finch told him. "If you are going to speak to Leeds, you'd better get a move on, because you need to get back through the Mersey Tunnel and pick up signs for the M62, because it does start to get busy".

Martyn continues. "It was quite surreal. We did as we were told really. We jumped in the car and drove across and when we got to this side of The Pennines, there was no way Leeds were going to let us go back!"

Andrew

There is a difference between having a different view point to making up stuff.

Not to get the doom cycle started but De Bruyne is out with Coviditis.

Dale,

Man City now scraping the barrel in terms of replacements, with De Bruyne out! It's just another world, isn't it? A bench that would grace our first team.

Dale

Grealish out too. Foden doubtful. and yet. . . none of our injured crew are fit, Tom's been added to it along with Holgate's suspension. So I imagine the same starting 11, then couple of old goalies, Rondon, Iwobi, Gbamin, Kenny, and some kids.

Yeah, it doesn't look good on our end but not seeing a few of their better ones dancing all around us for 90 is something I suppose. UTFT! Damnit.

Jay,

I agree, Pickford's no Big Nev, but he's better than the list of alternatives you present.

We need to keep him; he's the best around at the moment and gets disproportionate stick for the odd brain fart that every keeper in the division makes just as often.

He's not England's Number 1 by fluke.

I very much doubt Spurs have the resources to fork out anything like what we would require for a player with over 31 months left on his contract. Pickford himself would expect a significant increase in his salary which Spurs will be equally loath to pay.

On the other hand, Newcastle with their new-found riches might well be happy to throw money our way and into Pickford's salary.

As for the player himself, he was awful 12 months ago and did not improve until after his return from injury in the spring. He has been more reliable with his saves since then but weaknesses remain, most notably his inability to deal with corners swung over his shoulder to the far post.

Jay (56),

I think Dean Henderson is Man Utd's long-term selection as their goalkeeper, so I doubt they would be interested in Pickford.

John (67) in his last paragraph describes Pickford's weakness which will stop him from ever being a top-class ‘keeper, that and never commanding his 6-yard area means he makes mistakes every game, just by being static on his line.

I wish..

Martin #16,

He is not the best keeper in the UK!

He is probably the best British keeper.

There is a difference.

There seem to be enough suggestions as to Pickford's replacement and, with Everton's record in the transfer market, I wouldn't be overly surprised by anything.

But I would ask those who think he should be sold: Who would the manager's preferred replacement be, Begovic or Lonergan? That is why they are here, isn't it?

So I didn't dream it, Darren?! You really couldn't make it up, could you? Everton acting like amateurs. Thinking they've got it in the bag and try to call the player's bluff resulting in spectacular failure & embarrassment.

John Raftery, now that would be interesting. Newcastle. I would be straight in contact with my mates. They can't stand him. Not just his Sunderland connections, he was widely disliked off the pitch as an individual in the North East by some accounts. But he was a young lad back then, so probably had some growing up and maturing to do. Moving away probably helped him do that.

I wouldn't describe them as similar, Dave Abrahams, but you just made me think of parallels with Tim Howard. He too always seemed reluctant to venture from the 6-yard box and didn't really offer a commanding presence. Good shot-stopper though. Ferguson saw something in him, tried him, moved him on. Although that was the period when every Man Utd keeper was living in Schmeichel senior's shadow. But, like you say, there's a difference between 'top drawer' and 'very good'.

Pickford is a good keeper. We would be hard pushed to find a comparable player for the money.

Spurs are a direct rival.

Why would you hand your rivals an advantage?

He had a few wobbly spells, but they seem behind him for now. Getting some decent central defenders who can defend corners would help! No coincidence that his England goals conceded is so low with good players in front of him.

Perhaps Rondon can play in goal.

He has the same fitness levels as Big Nev at the moment.

Jay #56, don't you dare say Blake as long as Matt Turner is still in MLS. That's one keeper I'd like to see in Blue someday.

(BTW, Blake is Jamaican.)

Ultimately he's the typical over-rated English International. An inconsistent good-to-average keeper.

The "good with his feet" tag and "excellent distribution" comments are laughable for most Everton fans that watch him, week-in & week-out.

Sell and re-invest in other areas.

Bring in a keeper on loan.

Henderson is about as good or average as Pickford. I'm pretty sure Man City, Chelsea and the like also have better reserve keepers than our two.

I might be lured to Spurs at this rate!!!

Like a slow death sentence supporting this club!!