According to a recent report by Express Sport, Manchester United are ready to launch a mammoth £70m bid to secure the services of Jordan Pickford from Everton. It is understood that Jose Mourinho is still looking for a replacement for David De Gea if the Spaniard ends up quitting Old Trafford in the near future and has identified the Toffees shot-stopper as an ideal option to take up that role.
The same report has also revealed that the Red Devils are prepared to eclipse the massive £72m world-record transfer fee that Chelsea paid for Kepa Arrizabalaga last summer in an attempt to bring the English international to the red half of Manchester.
The Everton number one has made a strong start to this Premier League campaign which follows his heroics for Gareth Southgate’s English national side in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. His outstanding contributions helped the Three Lions claim an impressive fourth-place finish in the competition which caught the attention of the Man United chiefs.
The former Sunderland prospect has made 14 appearances for Marco Silva’s team this season, conceding 15 goals while keeping four clean sheets across multiple competitions. He has also earned 15 international caps for his country so far.
The 24-year-old goalie is an exceptional shot-stopper who has razor-sharp reflexes and is also quite good at reading the game during high-pressure situations. The Everton star can distribute the ball well and possesses the ability to pick out his teammates when he attempts to play long balls into the opposition half. However, he needs to work on his ball-handling skills if he wants to prove his worth at a top club like Manchester United.
The addition of Pickford would undoubtedly be a shrewd move for Mourinho as he has a very promising future in England. At 24, the English talent can be a long-term acquisition for United as he would be an ideal replacement for De Gea in the event the Spaniard ends up leaving Manchester in search of greener pastures.
Pickford might not be an upgrade over the Spanish number one but he certainly has the potential to become a world-class talent if given a nurturing environment to sharpen his talents at Old Trafford. The fact that he is English and has already proven his worth in the Premier League makes him worth the world-record transfer fee which the Red Devils could potentially end up paying for his services.
