Everton are expected to confirm the £30m capture of Sunderland shot-stopper Jordan Pickford after the clubs agreed a £25m fee with up to £5m in add-ons.
Following Sunderland’s relegation from the Premier League, the departure of Pickford was expected. Though the £30m price-tag will make Pickford the most expensive British goalkeeper of all time and the third most expensive globally.
Koeman’s appointment at Everton was telling of a man who had been enticed by a project, the promise of financial fortune and a club entrenched with history and heritage. For Koeman and his staff, the choice upon leaving St Mary’s was clear. Moshiri; majority shareholder, was willing to back his man.
The heights a manager can reach within the relativity of their own personal potential largely lies with the financial fortune of their clubs. Koeman was promised backing from Moshiri and it proved a temptation too far. Pickford’s £30m arrival merely marks the start of this transfer window for Everton, Koeman and Moshiri mean business.
This is a serious statement of intent by Koeman, with the arrival of Pickford expected to mark an influx of talent to the Goodison Park barracks this Summer, rumours rife with links to Sigurdsson, Sandro Ramirez and Micheal Keane. Are we set to see Koeman launch a staunch campaign for Champions League football on Merseyside?
Backed by their extremely wealth owner; Fahid Moshiri, Everton’s spending is expected to surpass the £150m mark in this transfer window. The impetus of Leicester’s ex ‘Director of Football’; Steve Walsh at Goodison has proven pivotal.
Walsh has identified targets of indisputable talent but with evident value for money – Ademola Lookman’s arrival for £11m in January coupled with the targeting of Malaga’s Sandro Ramirez with a £6m release clause is typical Walsh: outstanding at what he does but maintaining the courage to look further afield.
Everton look set to dominate the Premier League come August. The promotion of youth team players such as Tom Davies, Mason Holgate and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has sufficed as suitable evidence to suggest Everton’s academy is producing. Couple this with mass financial investment and a manager of proven pedigree, just how far can this Everton team go?
In his maiden season with the club, Koeman has provided stability and in doing so had laid a foundation for success. A very wealthy owner, a very talented manager and a squad that’s certainly not sub-standard either…
Everton are set for achievements and accolades come 2017, but further Koeman armed with a £150m war-chest? Watch this space.
Written by Tom Newman.
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