Richard Keys slams Everton’s Jordan Pickford as not good enough with Frank Lampard told to sign Chelsea keeper

Frank Lampard has been tipped to bring Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to Everton in the summer.

And former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys called current No.1 Jordan Pickford ‘not good enough’ for the Toffees.

Pickford is firmly first choice at Goodison Park, having arrived at £25 million from Sunderland in 2017.

He's also a regular for England and kept five clean sheets as Gareth Southgate's men suffered heartbreak at Euro 2020 last summer.

What’s been said

Pickford made a string of saves to keep the score down in Everton's 2-0 loss at Southampton on Saturday.

But writing on his personal blog, Keys says Frank Lampard must recruit a new keeper.

And he believes Kepa, who became the most-expensive goalkeeper of all time when he signed for Chelsea for £72 million in 2019, could be the ideal candidate.

That's despite Lampard dropping the Spain international and then signing Edouard Mendy while he was at the Stamford Bridge helm.

Keys wrote: “Few teams have spent more than Everton in recent seasons. I won’t go over old ground here, but I’m afraid they’re going to have to go again if Frank Lampard has got half a chance of success at Goodison.

“They’ve got a gem in Anthony Gordon. I’ll say again - ‘new’ Steven Gerrard. He reminds me so much of the former Liverpool skipper. His gangly teenage gate is the same. He loves a tackle. He can spray passes about and run all day. He’s also got an eye for a goal He’s special. But he’s about all they have got despite the big spend - and he was for nothing!

“If I’m Lampard my priority is a goalkeeper. I’m afraid Pickford isn’t good enough. He frightens me anytime he’s near the ball - and he’s too often not near enough to it. He shouldn’t have let [Kieran] Trippier’s free-kick in at Newcastle - and he shouldn’t have been letting [Stuart] Armstrong’s goal in at Soton. There’s too many mistakes in him.

“He must give his defence kittens. He’s a nervous mess - edgy, twitchy, anxious - all the time.

“It’s too late this season - but what chance Lampard goes back to Chelsea for Kepa? I would. I know Lampard didn’t fancy him at The Bridge, but he’s better than Pickford, [Dean] Henderson or any other option you can think of that’s available right now. He’s also too good to be No2 at Chelsea.

“Lampard knows him. Watch this space.”