According to The Sun, Everton are interested in Nick Pope as a potential replacement for Jordan Pickford. The report says Everton are considering selling their first-choice stopper due to his poor form and disciplinary problems this season and have identified two English alternatives. Pope is one of them and could be an affordable acquisition.
The 26-year-old has a £10m asking price and currently earns £1.8m-a-year/£35k-per-week at Burnley. He joined the Clarets from Charlton Athletic in 2016 and has gone on to make 45 appearances in all competitions, conceding 47 goals and keeping 18 clean sheets. Pope has fallen down the pecking order at Turf Moor and could be moved on for the right price.
Tom Heaton and Joe Hart are both ahead of the goalkeeper in Sean Dyche’s estimates, so is he really a better option for Everton than Pickford? The Toffees won’t break the bank paying £10m to procure his signature, but Pope’s last Premier League appearance for Burnley was 11 months ago. He’s been hampered with injuries ever since but is on the recovery trail.
The Sun say Everton will have to sell to buy this summer, so Pope’s arrival might be dependent on either Pickford leaving or Maarten Stekelenburg.
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