Opinion: Manchester United should seriously reconsider potential transfer fee for experienced Premier League man

Manchester United showed glimpses of their quality during the 2022/23 season, as they finished third in the Premier League table under the watchful eye of Erik ten Hag, who has impressed the majority of the Old Trafford faithful since taking charge of the club. 

The Red Devils are set for an interesting summer transfer window, as the Dutchman looks to add to his squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, which is set to get underway in August. One area in which ten Hag could look at strengthening is the goalkeeping department, with David De Gea’s future looking unclear heading towards July. The Spaniard is contracted with Manchester United until June 2023, but it remains to be seen as to whether the club will extend his contract, as they have the option of a further year with the 32-year-old. 

De Gea hasn’t been at his best on a consistent level with Manchester United in recent seasons, which has led to some supporters voicing their concerns as to whether he’s the right man to be in between the posts heading into the new league campaign. It seems as though ten Hag’s side could be preparing for life without De Gea, who made some notable mistakes at key moments last term, as they’re reportedly eyeing a move for Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. 

Pickford has been with Everton since 2017, having moved to Goodison Park from Sunderland. The Toffees haven’t been anywhere near their best in recent seasons, and narrowly avoided relegation into the Championship this season, much to the delight of their fans. Pickford has certainly played his part in that survival, and it appears as though his strong performances haven’t gone unnoticed. 

The Daily Star on Sunday have reported that Manchester United are preparing a bid in the region of £45m, which certainly seems sizeable for a player that is 29, and potentially slightly past his best. Pickford has caught the eye with some impressive showings, but similarly to De Gea, he’s not been a player that performs consistently well between the posts. Pickford only kept eight clean sheets in all competitions during the 2022/23 season, which doesn’t make for the best of viewing. 

Experts at Bonus Code Bets have revealed that Manchester United are the favourites priced at 7/4 with Sky Bet to sign Pickford this summer. Below, we’ve provided the rest of the odds for the clubs rumoured to be keen on a deal to sign the England shot-stopper. 

• Manchester United @ 7/4
• Tottenham Hotspur @ 3/1
• Chelsea @ 14/1
• West Ham United @ 16/1
• Brighton & Hove Albion @ 20/1
• Crystal Palace @ 25/1

Odds displayed are correct as of 2:44pm, Monday 19th June 2023. Odds are subject to change. 

Manchester United would be making a mistake in paying close to £50m for Pickford, as there’s certainly better options out there in today’s market, especially if they’re looking forwards to the future. Taking a sizeable chunk out of their summer transfer budget on Pickford wouldn’t be the wisest of moves, especially as it would mean they could spend less on other areas of their squad, which could be far from ideal.