Manchester United will attempt to sign Everton’s Jordan Pickford if David De Gea departs in the summer, according to The Sun.
The newspaper claim that Real Madrid are believed to be ready to pursue the Man United goalkeeper once again, and Jose Mourinho’s side have set their sights on the Toffees goalkeeper if that happens.
The Sun report that Pickford is likely to cost Manchester United £50million, a fee that wouldn’t put them off, after the 23-year-old only joined Everton for £30million in June.
Pickford has played 35 times this season across all competitions for the Toffees, conceding 57 and keeping eight clean sheets.
The Sun believe that Mourinho and his staff have been impressed with the goalkeeper’s form this season, which has led them to put Pickford at the top of their list of potential De Gea replacements.
Manchester United currently sit second in the Premier League, where as the Toffees sit 10th with 25 less points.
De Gea has played in all of Man United’s league games this season and after joining in 2011 from Atletico Madrid, he has made a total of 300 appearances for the club.
Good move for Everton?
No.
While the £50million would be nice and a huge increase on the £30million they paid out in June, Pickford has been one of the few players to impress at Goodison Park this season.
The 23-year-old’s performance could even gain him a place in England’s World Cup squad in the summer, and with his future looking so bright, it would be disappointing to see the club let him go.
This is Futbol rating: 2/10
Likely to happen?
This deal depends on Real Madrid’s long pursuit of De Gea finally resulting in them signing the player.
It’s hard to know if the Spanish giants will ever get their man, as they seem to have tried to many times and failed.
If De Gea does finally leave and join Real Madrid, then Manchester United will definitely consider Pickford an ideal replacement and the Toffees are unlikely to turn down £50million if a fee of the nature is offered.
Pickford would also no doubt jump at the move as he would join a side that are serious title contenders.
This is Futbol rating: 4/10