EVERTON chiefs are close to shaking hands with England No 1 Jordan Pickford on a bumper new four-year contract.
The Toffees want Pickford to carry on with them — as SunSport revealed two months ago — and talks have sped along as the experienced keeper is close to agreement.
The 31-year-old could get a deal for four more seasons, an extension from his current terms which have two more years to go.
The Three Lions star earns about £6million a year but that will be hiked.
And, with annual rises, he will be looking at a huge increase by the end of the contract in 2029.
Pickford is settled under David Moyes at Everton and has not pushed for a move to a bigger club despite his status as one of the Premier League’s best.
The experienced gloveman hasn’t missed a Prem clash for Everton since 2022, and has now breached 320 top flight appearances.
It’s been his consistent high performance for the Toffees that has also seen him maintain the No1 shirt for England too.
Over the years Pickford has seen off Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson and Sam Johnstone in the battle to be the Three Lions’ starting shot-stopper.
Pickford has now represented England in four major tournaments and racked up 76 caps.
Everton have already announced the arrival of backup goalkeeper Mark Travers from Bournemouth this summer.
Travers, 26, has penned a four-year deal on Merseyside and has his eyes on giving Pickford a run for his money.
Upon signing for Everton, he said: “Jordan [Pickford] is an outstanding goalkeeper for Club and country. I’m looking forward to competing with everyone here and being a Premier League player.
“Being in this environment is huge. We’re going to push each other every day in training and whatever happens on the weekend, we’re going to be there for each other and make the most of every opportunity that comes.”
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