Everton are set to open negotiations with England’s World Cup hero Jordan Pickford over a new contract, according to the ever reliable Paul Joyce.
The Toffees’ ‘keeper has been touted to fill the void Thibaut Courtois could leave in the Chelsea goal if the Belgian was to move to Real Madrid this summer.
A move after just a year at Goodison would be a massive blow for Everton, especially this late in the window.
But the club hope to put an end to any unwanted speculation with an improved deal, despite the former Sunderland stopper still having four years left on his current contract.
Pickford is yet to work with new Blues boss Marco Silva but the Portuguese will be keen to have his number one back in between the sticks when Everton travel to Molineux Stadium on August 11.
Jordan played all 38 of Everton’s Premier League ties last campaign, keeping 10 clean sheets in the process. He stormed the end of season award ceremony, picking up players’ player and fans’ player of the year.
That form gave Gareth Southgate an easy decision to install him as England’s undisputed first choice and the 24-year-old proved vital in the Three Lions’ first ever World Cup shoot-out victory.