England star Jordan Pickford is close to signing a new contract with Everton, but the Toffees are forced to hit back after controversial comments from pundit Lee Dixon
Everton have issued a brutal response to Lee Dixon who questioned why Jordan Pickford did not leave the club. The ITV pundit was on duty on Tuesday night as England passed through Latvia to secure a place in next summer’s World Cup.
Everton stopper Pickford was selected between manager Thomas Tuchel’s sticks and kept nine successive clean sheets for his country in his 80th appearance. Former Arsenal star Dixon was full of praise but questioned why Pickford did not opt for a move to a “bigger club”.
Everton fans hit back at the claims, and the Toffees themselves hit back at Dixon. The Merseysiders said on Twitter: “9 Top League titles, 5 FA Cups, 1 European title, one of the most passionate fan bases in football, a new world-class stadium. Everton FC – The Big Club: Past, Present and Future @LeeDixon2.”
It seems unlikely that Pickford will be going anywhere anytime soon. He is about to sign a new long-term contract that will extend his stay at the club for a further four years.
“Of course everyone knows how happy I am at Everton, but I’m not going to talk too deeply about it,” he said of his new contract. “I want to give my all for England over the next two days.
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“I just want to qualify and get a win tomorrow and hopefully get another cap and wear number 80. That’s my only focus right now.”
Pickford has made 322 appearances for Everton since joining from Sunderland in 2017. He was signed by former Toffees manager Ronald Koeman, but manager David Moyes has revealed the role he played in the goalkeeper’s move to Merseyside.
“When I lost the Sunderland job at the end of the season, I said to Bill (Kenwright), ‘We have to sign a goalkeeper for Sunderland’ and he did. He went on and signed him at that point.”
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“He was a great young goalkeeper at the time,” Moyes added. “He’s matured enough in some ways, but interestingly he wasn’t as quick as he was when he was younger.
“I thought he was a little more calm, but he was probably still angry off the pitch! But seriously, he was a really good goalkeeper.”
Pickford has enjoyed some quality time with England in recent days and will now turn his attention back to his commitments with the club. Everton face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Coach Moyes’ team got off to a strong start to the new season, winning three of their opening seven games and finishing in eighth place.
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