'Seems so' - Sean Dyche makes Jordan Pickford Everton transfer admission amid Chelsea links

Sean Dyche believes Jordan Pickford has remained at Everton through their plight because he is part of the club’s ‘fabric’.

The goalkeeper has enjoyed an excellent campaign for the Toffees to help them retain their Premier League status again. Pickford has recorded three successive clean sheets and 12 in the league, which places him behind only Arsenal’s David Raya in the race for the Golden Glove.

Pickford’s been the bedrock of Everton’s teams that have avoided relegation for the past three campaigns. During that time, the likes of Richarlison (Tottenham), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) and Demarai Gray (Al-Ettifaq) have all departed.

England’s No.1 would not have been short of suitors had he wished to depart at any point. Instead, he did the opposite by signing a contract to commit his long-term future to the Blues until the summer of 2027.

And Dyche believes that Pickford being settled on Merseyside is why he’s stayed loyal despite the turbulent few years at Goodison Park.

Everton boss Dyche, speaking ahead of Friday’s trip to Luton Town, said: “I think he is genuinely happy here. He seems to me when I speak to him, his family life is settled, he is settled in as part of the fabric of Everton. That is an important factor. He is still England’s No1. He is in a healthy place for himself and for I think his life meets his professional life. There is always a balance. If players are settled in what their life is and with the club, that is a really good situation and he certainly seems so to me.”

On Pickford’s displays this season, Dyche said: “He has delivered performances, especially important performances. He has had a couple of things go against him which can happen as a keeper, he handles that side of it well, stays focused on the job in hand.

“He has shown that in key moments rather than just performances because I must say there is a team in front of him which works very hard and I think he believes in that team.”