Everton Ready To Cash In On This Gifted Custodian: Should Benitez Let Him Go?

In a recent report, The Sun stated that Everton are ready to cash in on Jordan Pickford this winter. It is believed that the Toffees could let their first-team keeper leave so that they can raise some funds for other incoming acquisitions during the January transfer window.

Pickford’s Recent Struggles At Goodison Park

Pickford has endured a tough season with the Merseyside outfit so far as he has struggled to keep clean sheets in English football. The 27-year-old has conceded 21 goals and secured three shutouts in 13 matches for Everton during this campaign across various competitions.

The Washington-born sensation has done well to average 1.2 clearances and 6.2 long balls per 90 minutes in the Premier League. However, he has often gone long when distributing the ball from the back which explains why he has only made 44.2% of his attempted passes in the English top tier (stats via whoscored).

Should Everton Boss Rafael Benitez Let Pickford Go Next Month?

Pickford has decent reflexes and can pull off a few solid saves at the back. He excels at sensing the danger quickly and can come out of his lines to clear the ball when needed. However, he has struggled to give a good account of himself in between the sticks for Everton this season. The 42-time England international has also given away possession cheaply at times when passing the ball out from the back. Still, there are times when Pickford has proven himself to be a solid performer for the Toffees in recent seasons which should not go unnoticed.

The ex-Sunderland keeper’s current contract at the Merseyside club is set to run out in the summer of 2024. Thus, Benitez is under no immediate pressure to cut him loose next year. Having said that, Pickford is currently not playing his best football.

Thus, if the Everton head coach thinks that he can bring in a suitable replacement for him, he should consider letting his first-choice goalie leave when the transfer window reopens in January. Another option for the Toffees boss would be back Pickford with the hope that he can turn his fortunes around for the better at Goodison Park in the coming seasons.