OPINION
It has emerged this week that Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has been identified as Chelsea’s number one choice to replace Thibaut Courtois, if the Belgian departs for Real Madrid this summer.
It is said that new Blues boss Maurizio Sarri has moved on to the Everton shot-stopper after Liverpool snared his number one target Alisson from Roma earlier this month.
Although Chelsea haven’t given up on convincing Courtois to stay, Sarri will speak to the 26-year-old personally once he returns from a post-World Cup holiday, it appears likely that he will be allowed to leave this summer rather than on a free when his contract runs out next year.
Everton are expected to resist all offers for Pickford, but if the former Sunderland man does indeed depart for Stamford Bridge, the Toffees will be left with a serious hole to plug. This is Futbol have identified three possible Pickford replacements for Marco Silva’s side.
Jack Butland
Pickford’s international team-mate has also been identified as a possible Courtois replacement, although new Stoke manager Gary Rowett moved to squash any exit talk recently. It’s logical that if Pickford were to move to London, Butland would be a prime candidate to replace him on Merseyside.
The 25-year-old wouldn’t come cheap, but it’s likely Everton would be flush with cash if they decide to make a profit on a player who cost them £30million last summer. Butland, too, would surely been keen on a move back to the Premier League, with Everton representing a significant step up even if Stoke had remained in the top flight.
The former Birmingham man’s talent has been obvious for years now, and having seemingly put his injury problems behind him, he would represent a like-for-like replacement for Pickford.
Despite moments of inconsistency last term, Butland remains a fine shot-stopper with a decade of football ahead of him. Like Pickford, his purchase would be an investment in the future, and a smart way of ensuring Everton don’t go backwards despite selling their current Player of the Season.
Marcus Bettinelli
Fulham’s Bettinelli eventually won his battle with David Button to be the club’s first choice keeper last season, and he showed why with some excellent performances down the stretch as the Whites claimed promotion back to the Premier League through the Play Offs.
However the 26-year-old’s hopes of a smooth campaign between the sticks have taken a hit already with Fulham’s signing of Besiktas number one Fabri earlier this summer. Competition is nothing new to Bettinelli, and if history is anything to go by then he will surely thrive under it, but the arrival of a new ‘keeper may be what is needed to convince the Englishman that his future lies elsewhere.
The player has a market value of just £1.7million [Transfermarkt] and would therefore be an incredibly low-cost option for Silva’s side. This would then allow the club to spend the Pickford windfall on other areas of the squad that need improving.
Bettinelli’s best days are ahead of him, and he has shown already that he can overcome adversity, he could prove to be a diamond in the rough for the Toffees.
Samir Handanovic
If Everton want an experienced pair of hands between the sticks, someone who has played for a top European club, then they should look no further than Slovenia’s Handanovic.
The 34-year-old is in his sixth year at Inter Milan, and has been a figure of calm and consistency amidst troubled times ever since he joined. He is widely regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in Serie A, although his price tag of £7.65million [Transfermarkt] doesn’t suggest as much.
He is older than the other options on this list, but he is arguably the best pure goalkeeper of the three, too. He made 39 starts for Inter last season and conceded just 31 goals. The Slovenian is highly regarded by his employers, but with a bit of negotiation it’s likely they could be convinced to let him go.
Handanovic represents the safest option, here. He is an experienced international who has years of service at a European giant under his belt. If Everton could convince him to try something new, then there’s no doubt he would excel at Goodison Park.