Steve Walsh has revealed that his “big fear” while he was at Everton was that Real Madrid would table a £60million bid for Jordan Pickford.
The former Goodison Park director of football has told the Telegraph of his delight at the goalkeeper’s England penalty shootout heroics last night (Tuesday) and insisted he reflects with delight at the player’s arrival at Goodison last summer.
Everton signed Pickford from Sunderland for a fee that could eventually rise to £30million but Walsh is convinced he will soon be worth double that.
“We never actually paid £30million. The initial outlay was not that much, but was built on Premier League and international appearances,” Walsh told the Telegraph.
“It is fair to say it might eventually be that much. But when a player proves you right you are happy to pay. He is worth £30million now and will be worth a lot a more the more mature he gets. My big fear at Everton was that eventually a club the size of Real Madrid would come along and want to get him, offering around £60million.”
OPINION
England’s flying supremo certainly looked worth every penny of £60million last night as he flung out a rock solid left arm to beat away a well-struck Colombia penalty that appeared to be destined for the back of the net. It was a brilliant save that will go down in England folklore, and will certainly pique the interest of clubs with even more money than well-heeled Everton. Credit to Walsh for not wanting the Telegraph to go overboard with how they portray him after he was sacked by the Merseysiders at the end of last season following a wretched campaign in which he was one of many whose reputations had plummeted. The mastermind behind Leicester City’s remarkable Premier League title did not get much right in the transfer market 12 months ago but he is right to be proud of the purchase of Pickford, a player he made it clear he pushed the club hard to sign. Given the keeper is 24 and yet to reach his peak, he could go for some seriously big money soon.