A move for Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford by Manchester United should not be ruled out this summer, according to former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler.
United are seeking reinforcements in the goalkeeping department and this has become all the more important following David de Gea leaving the club. The Spaniard has bid farewell to United after spending 12 years at Old Trafford.
Inter Milan's Andre Onana is top of the list for United's targets this summer. Onana previously played under United boss Erik ten Hag at former side Ajax.
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But though Onana has been strongly linked with a move to United, Fowler believes the potential of England number one Pickford heading to Old Trafford ought not to be discounted. It is despite the stopper very recently signing a new deal with Everton.
But Fowler believes there will be a release clause in Pickford's latest Goodison Park deal which United could exercise. He believes with ongoing concerns in the background around alleged breaches of financial rules hanging over the Merseyside club, United could capitalise on that situation and swoop for Pickford.
"I see Manchester United have been strongly linked with Inter’s Andre Onana, and that makes sense because his distribution is sensational, and he played for Ten Hag at Ajax," he told the Daily Mirror.
"But don’t rule out Jordan Pickford. I know he only signed a new contract last February, but to me that makes it more rather than less likely he’ll move this summer. I can almost guarantee he had a release clause inserted in that contract.
"Pickford only had just over a year left when he signed the new deal, and he’s one of the best in the world, the recognised number one for one of the best international teams in the world. He’s handy on the ball too.
"United will have sniffed around to test how Everton are going to handle their ongoing profit and sustainability issues, so they’ll be absolutely on top of their keeper situation, no doubt, whether it’s Onana or Pickford."
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