England goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford has confirmed that he will be staying at Everton for the 2023-24 campaign, despite reports suggesting he could leave. The England number one has played a pivotal role in keeping Everton afloat in the top flight for the past couple of seasons and remains Gareth Southgate’s undisputed first choice for the Three Lions. However, Pickford has naturally been linked with a departure from the Merseyside club amid their relegation scraps, especially with Euro 2024 on the horizon. 
Jordan Pickford with other Everton players. Source: Getty Pickford has attracted interest from a host of top clubs over the past few transfer windows, with the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United said to be keen. But the 29-year-old signed a new contract back in February and it seems he’s keen to remain in Merseyside. Speaking to The Athletic, Jordan Pickford confirmed his desire to remain at Everton next season. He told the publication; ‘Definitely, I’ll be here next season. I’ve just signed a new contract and I’m happy and my family is happy so now we just want to move forward as a club.’ Everton finished one place and two points above the relegation zone in May and guaranteeing safety by just a four-point margin the year previous. 
Jordan Pickford celebrates an Everton victory. Source: Reuters Sections of the club’s fanbase have grown increasingly frustrated over the actions of majority owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright, while the players have failed to raise spirits with their performances. Everton are one of the few teams that have never been relegated from England’s top division and Pickford warned that the club can’t repeat the same mistakes next season. He said; ‘We should never have been in that position. We lost a lot of games that we shouldn’t have ever lost, or we had chances where we should have taken points from more games. ‘It was our own fault that we ended up in that position. But it does show the type of characters we are to get out of that situation. We need to knuckle down and work hard on the training pitch.’
Folarin Balogun unveiled as a USMNT player. Source: Twitter Arsenal are already preparing for life without Balogun and the funds could be spent before he even leaves. The Gunners have agreed to a £65m fee for Kai Havertz from Chelsea who will compete with Gabriel Jesus up top. Eddie Nketiah also remains at the Emirates and is expected to fill in as a squad member. That leaves no space for Balogun, who is keen on being the main man at another club. Football fans eagerly await the outcome of this transfer saga, as Balogun’s next destination could have a significant impact on his career trajectory. Whether he stays in the Premier League or moves abroad, the talented striker’s journey is set to continue with high expectations surrounding his future performances.