MY ACCOUNT
Jordan Pickford and Anthony Gordon are “very close” to committing their future to Everton amid transfer speculation, manager Frank Lampard claimed on Friday.
The Everton goalkeeper was again an integral figure as England reached the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar, while Gordon was repeatedly linked to Chelsea in the last transfer window.
A Stamford Bridge move never materialised for the 21-year-old winger, who has scored three times in 14 Premier League appearances this season.
Tottenham are reportedly interested in Pickford, but Lampard does not expect the pair – along with the rejuvenated Alex Iwobi – to leave Goodison Park in the near future.
“We’re in a situation where we want them to stay, and they want to stay – that’s always been the feeling – so we are very close,” Lampard said ahead of Monday’s Premier League clash with Wolves.
“I don’t want to speak for him, but Jordan feels very happy at this club. That’s the impression I get. We are a huge club with a big history and big ambition, and he is a big part of that.
“Maybe, I was fortunate to play in the Champions League a lot, but when I felt comfortable at a club, I came in with a smile on my face every day and I looked forward to every game.
“If Jordan feels like that, and we can match each other’s ambitions, I don’t see that as a problem.”
While Lampard does not envisage any key players departing in January, the former Chelsea midfielder wants to make Conor Coady’s move to Everton a permanent deal.
Coady is ineligible to face parent club Wolves, with the centre-back and Pickford still reeling from England’s World Cup exit at the hands of France.
“Conor has been brilliant since he’s been here in every possible way,” Lampard added. “I would like to make that permanent at some point. That’s not happening right now, but we will keep looking at that one.
“Conor and Jordan are great because they are low maintenance. It will have hurt them – as it did the whole nation – to leave the tournament because we felt we were doing well.
“There’s not much worse than that moment [when you go out]. But the beauty of this tournament being in mid-season is that they come straight back to their clubs and the Premier League, and they know how highly we regard them.
“Obviously, Conor can’t play on Monday, but they’ve come back with a really good attitude.”
