England are out of the World Cup after semi-final defeat by Croatia but Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is one of those players who has enhanced his reputation with his performances.
The Everton number one has established himself after this World Cup as perhaps one of the leading goalkeepers in world football.
Two questions now come up; will he be able to maintain this level of form next season and should the Blues be braced for big money bids for the 24-year-old?
Pickford was quite outstanding for England whenever it counted in this tournament. His brace of saves against Sweden were critical in seeing England through that quarter-final.
Now with the national teams’ unlikely World Cup journey over, thoughts turn to Everton and the new Premier League season.
Currently the Blues are in Austria on a pre-season tour. As Pickford re-joins his club, it’s going to be vital for the Toffees chances in the coming season that he can sustain his excellent form.
But of course there is another difficult aspect to this and that is will another club try to prise him away from Everton. This question is something Blues fans don’t want to face but it’s a possibility.
A World Cup is a great window to raise your profile and Pickford has done. There are no rumours yet but I think I can speak for most Toffees’ fans when I say the club simply have to keep him whatever offer might come in.
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He is perhaps the most important current player on the club’s books. A top quality keeper is worth maybe 12-15 points a season and such an improvement in Everton’s results would have put us in the top six.
The importance of a goalkeeper able to make that sort of difference was neatly underlined by Liverpool’s failure in last season’s Champions League final. Such an improvement in form would also require better defending in front of him.
Given the lack of new signings so far this is still far from certain although there are more reports today about the Blues moving for two Barcelona defenders.
Next: Everton now after two defenders
If we can put a better defence in front of Pickford and add some additional goal threat up front then the Blues just might have a chance of a decent, even trophy wining season.