Man Utd ready to pounce for Pickford after Everton contract blunder

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 28 Dec 2022 18:22 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United could move for Jordan Pickford to replace David de Gea after it came to light that the Everton board are dithering on extending the England No.1's contract at Goodison Park.

De Gea's Old Trafford future remains uncertain. United recently activated one-year extensions for Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot and others, but left De Gea's contract unaddressed.

The Spaniard will be a free agent at the end of the season unless he agrees to a significant pay reduction as things stand, and manager Erik ten Hag would like to replace him with a goalkeeper more comfortable with the ball at his feet.

READ: The five options to be Man Utd No.1 goalkeeper next season

Porto and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa is understood to be his first choice in the position, but Pickford's own contract situation at Everton has pricked ears up at Old Trafford.

The England goalkeeper had agreed terms on a new five-year deal ahead of the World Cup, but it has still not been signed off by the Everton board, and United are optimistic they could acquire him for around the €25.8 million he is rated at by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm.

Everton manager Frank Lampard would certainly like Pickford to stick around.

READ: Five players Man Utd failed to sign this season

Lampard: 'Pickford happy at Everton'

"Jordan feels very happy being at this club," he said last week. "I don't want to speak for him but that's the impression I get from him.

"I feel we can match his ambitions. We're a huge club with a huge history and big ambition and he's a big part of that. If Jordan feels like that, we can match each other's ambitions and in terms of getting him to stay longer, I don't see that as a problem."

Unfortunately for Lampard, the Everton board seem to have their reservations, and United could now pounce.

Pickford already lives in Cheshire, and would count as a homegrown player to boot.