Pundit predicts £100k-per-week Everton star will leave Goodison Park if form continues

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Tony Cascarino feels that Jordan Pickford could leave Goodison Park to try and rediscover his form between the sticks.

What did he say?

The £100,000-a-week star has been at Everton for the past two years and has since established himself as England’s number one. In his 98 appearances for the club, Pickford has kept 30 clean sheets and helped the Blues finish eighth last season.

In that time last season, the Englishman conceded just 46 goals in the league – the fifth-lowest. Pickford would also be vital for England in their fourth-placed World Cup finish last summer, playing a telling role in the country’s first-ever penalty shootout win at the tournament.

Cascarino told The Times: “Yet another entry in the catalogue of Jordan Pickford errors shows why the Everton keeper’s days as England’s number 1 are numbered… beaten easily by a set piece, (which) went almost straight at him. His poor form has slipped under the radar.

“Fraser Forster and Joe Hart lost form and moved on in past seasons and I think Pickford, the way he is going, will follow suit and leave Goodison Park. He is a rash goalkeeper at the best of times and makes far too many mistakes to continue to be Gareth Southgate’s first choice for the national team with a major tournament coming up next year.”

Pope and Heaton ready to pounce

This season has been entirely different from the form the £100,000-per-week star showed last year.

So far, Everton have conceded 16 goals in 10 league games and his error against Brighton & Hove Albion was just one of many this season.

Not only is Pickford’s form at Everton a concern for the club, but it will certainly be a major worry for Gareth Southgate with the Euro’s on the horizon.

And it’s not like he doesn’t have any attractive alternatives to chose from either.

Nick Pope and Tom Heaton have made 2.9 saves per game in the league so far, whilst Pickford has averaged 2.4. The Everton man has also conceded more goals than Pope, with the Burnley keeper letting in 15 to his 16.

Southgate will have a decision to make next summer, but Pickford’s form of late suggests it won’t necessarily be one involving his 2018 number one.

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