James tells Everton star to join Man Utd as he would help Ten Hag’s men ‘compete at a better level’
Former England international David James reckons Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford should move to Man Utd and would help Erik ten Hag’s side “compete at a better level”.
Pickford’s good form for Everton this season saw him called up for the World Cup and Gareth Southgate has unsurprisingly chosen him as his number one for the tournament.
The Everton goalkeeper, who has been linked to Chelsea and Tottenham, has conceded just two goals in England’s first three matches at the World Cup and James has been explaining why Pickford should join Man Utd.
David de Gea has been the main goalkeeper at Man Utd since 2011, despite a little wobble in the 2020-21 season, which saw Dean Henderson take his place towards the end of the campaign.
However, the Spaniard won his spot back and has been the undisputed number one again this season – but James reckons Pickford has shown qualities that could see him take De Gea’s shirt if he was to move to Man Utd.
“I think Aaron Ramsdale has proven at Arsenal that the quality of the team around you will influence the quality of your performances,” James told GGRecon.
“He’s a potential number-one for his country because he’s playing for a much better side. Jordan Pickford, when he’s playing for England, plays how he would if he played for a big side in the Premier League.
“It’s a no-brainer for me that he’s good enough to play for a team such as Chelsea or Manchester City. He’s shown he has the capabilities to play for a huge club such as those as he can do it for England.
“Would he go to Chelsea? Kepa has shown that he’s capable of being a top player in a top team.
“Why not Manchester United? Jordan Pickford plays for Everton and Manchester United are just down the road. If he went there, his off-field disruption would be minimal compared to whether he moved down to London.
“If I was to suggest a side that he should go to, and even though Manchester United aren’t playing in the Champions League at the moment, if they signed somebody like Jordan Pickford then you could argue that would give them the ability to compete at a better level.”
Gary Neville recently claimed that Pickford “seems to suit international football” but that the Everton and England stopper still has a “mistake” in him.
“England’s defenders aren’t in great form,” Neville said last month. “There is a mistake in them. There is a mistake in the goalkeeper.
“Although I have to say, the goalkeeper’s form for England is far better than sometimes his form for Everton. He plays well for England and seems to suit international football.
“To be fair, the types of problems he has at Everton are the type of problems that Qatar keeper had in that first half. But that is unusual at the international level.”
