Everton keeper Pickford set to make World Cup debut
England open their World Cup campaign tonight and it seems a safe bet Everton keeper Jordan Pickford will start for the Three Lions.
So the only Everton player to make the England team is going to debut in the World Cup tonight in Volgograd.
England have been waiting quite a while to get their campaign off and running so they finally have the chance to get off to a good start tonight.
Pickford certainly deserves this chance to play for his country at a World Cup after an excellent season with Everton, playing behind a defence that was at times truly woeful.
He was a no-brainer for player of the season at Goodison Park and he has also done very little wrong in the England goal, so far.
Pickford’s ability with the ball at his feet is obviously key to the success of England boss Gareth Southgate’s new approach.
Let’s hope he doesn’t have that much to do tonight though!
In other World Cup news today former Everton striker Romelu Lukaku scored twice as England’s Group F rivals Belgium won their opening match against Panama.
Moving away from the World Cup, there hasn’t been a lot of stories regarding Everton today. Although as we reported earlier today, (see below), the rumour of Jack Wilshire coming to the Blues is still bubbling along.
But the Daily Telegraph are reporting that Everton are looking at two other prospects, Gelson Martins and Matthijis De Ligt.
So who are these two players?
Martins is a 23-year-old winger at Sporting Lisbon, the same club where another strongly rumoured Blues target William Carvalho currently plays.
Martins contract has apparently been cancelled by the player himself and so he is available this summer, although not on a free.
Last season he enjoyed a very productive campaign, making 9 assists and adding 11 goals too. His stats are impressive especially for a wide player and he rates as strong in all the key attacking areas.
De Ligt is a teenage Dutch defender who has caught the eye of several leading clubs in Europe. He has just recently broken into the Dutch national team and produced some fine displays.
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Once again although statistics don’t always tell the whole story he seems a very solid defender. Averaging almost five clearances per match, which seems to indicate he is certainly a decisive and alert defender.
And something I go on about a lot, he is very good passer of the ball too with just under a 90% pass success rate.
There is another element to the De Ligt story, his agent is the notorious Mino Raiola.
As we reported recently Raiola has supposedly formed strong links with Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri and so there just might be a bit more mileage in this rumour.
Next: Blues Wilshire links continue
One thing though is certain Everton would face some strong competition for the youngster if they were to make a move for him.