According to Ken Lawrence of The Sun, Everton are interested in Jack Butland as a potential replacement for Jordan Pickford. The 26-year-old has made 128 appearances in all competitions for Stoke City since joining from Birmingham City in 2013, but he could be on the move due to the increased interest in his signature.
Pickford has been linked with a move away from Everton after poor form and discipline issues this season, but the chances of him leaving for a reportedly £50m appear slim. Nevertheless, the Toffees are believed to have identified two replacements in Nick Pope (Burnley) and Butland who fit their transfer policy of signing younger players.
Alan Nixon of The Sun says Butland has an asking price of £15m while FIFA say the English international earns around £1.75m-a-year/£33.2k-per-week. With Stoke languishing in the Championship, Butland might be lured away from the Britannia Stadium by Premier League football. Everton can certainly offer that, but they can’t offer him regular playing time unless Pickford leaves.
Is Butland even an upgrade on Pickford? The Everton goalkeeper is first-choice for a club looking to finish just outside of the Premier League top-six and a country who reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
Explained: Everton may have to pay £10m and £1.8m wages to sign England international