Former striker Michael Owen admits he is surprised at the amount of money on the table in Everton’s reported deal to sign Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford.
Owen took to his personal Twitter account on Tuesday to deliver his verdict on the transfer, whilst adding that he expects the Toffees to continue their spending beyond a deal for Pickford this summer.
He said: “Didn’t expect Jordan Pickford to command such a high fee but there’s no doubt he’s a huge talent. Expect Everton’s spending to continue.”
Didn't expect Jordan Pickford to command such a high fee but there's no doubt he's a huge talent. Expect Everton's spending to continue.
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) June 13, 2017
Sky Sports News had earlier claimed on its official Twitter account that Everton had reached an agreement with Sunderland over a £30million deal to sign the 23-year-old stopper.
BREAKING: Everton have agreed fee totalling £30m for Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford pic.twitter.com/jzkURUIjlJ
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 13, 2017
The goalkeeper has been attracting heavy interest from several of the Premier League’s top sides this summer, after a series of top displays during the 2016-17 season.
Pickford kept just five clean sheets from 32 appearances in all competitions last season as Sunderland were relegated to the Championship, but the statistics don’t give an honest assessment of his efforts.
The English stopper pulled off a number of stunning saves with the Black Cats regularly put to the sword, handing the northern club faint resistance in their doomed battle against the drop.
But he could be set to seal an immediate return to the Premier League with Everton, as manager Ronald Koeman seeks quality reinforcements to his first-team squad ahead of the new campaign.
Pickford has often been tipped to be England’s next No.1 goalkeeper, despite having yet to feature for the senior side, and Owen believes he is a “huge talent”.