An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their interest in signing Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
What’s the talk?
According to talkSPORT, the Magpies are one of the clubs, along with Tottenham, who are monitoring his situation at Goodison Park as they consider a swoop for the England international.
The report claims that the shot-stopper may be on his way out of the Toffees at the end of the season as manager Frank Lampard wants to fund a rebuild of the squad in the next window.
Major PIF blunder
PIF are on course for their first major blunder as Newcastle owners, as signing Pickford would be a huge mistake for multiple reasons.
First and foremost, he has had a poor season between the sticks. As per FBRef, he ranks in the 26th percentile in Europe’s top five leagues for goals conceded, the 29th percentile for save percentage and the 50th for post-shot XG in comparison to goals conceded. This suggests that he is at best an average shot-stopper, and there have been some theories from pundits as to why this is.
Former England full-back Stephen Warnock criticised Pickford’s style of goalkeeping, saying: “There’s a way of telling people you’ve go to be tighter, you’ve got to be more organised. His is aggressive every time that he comes out, he’s shouting at things.
“He’s just so animated, that for me, every time I see him I think there’s a mistake coming or he’s out of control in what he’s doing constantly.”
Pundit Jamie Smith previously dubbed the 28-year-old a “liability” after he made a key error in a 2-1 Premier League defeat for Everton in November 2020, coincidentally against Newcastle, and his statistics back up that criticism.
Along with his struggles on the pitch, it would also be a disaster given the player’s history with Sunderland, joining the Toffees from the Black Cats for £30m in 2017. Pickford came up through the youth ranks on Wearside and previously admitted that the reception he got from Newcastle fans at St James’ Park got to him at times.
Would the Toon faithful take to a player with a rich history at their arch-rivals in the northeast? Couple this with the goalkeeper’s poor displays on the pitch and you have the makings of a major blunder. This is why PIF must avoid a deal for Pickford and look elsewhere for goalkeeping options to improve the squad.
AND in other news, Imagine him & ASM: Howe can leave supporters buzzing if NUFC sign “rapid” £40m “freak”…