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Football

06th Oct 2020

Everton secure loan signing to challenge under pressure Pickford

Wayne Farry

everton

The Sweden international spent last season on loan at Cagliari

Everton confirmed the signing late last night of Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen on loan from AS Roma as Carlo Ancelotti seeks to bring in competition for under pressure number on Jordan Pickford.

30-year-old Olsen spent last season on loan at Cagliari having joined Roma from Copenhagen in 2018. He was one of a number of goalkeepers linked with the Toffees, including Spurs back-up Paulo Gazzaniga and Manchester United third choice keeper Sergio Romero.

His signing comes off he back of yet another uncertain and unconvincing performance from the Everton and England first choice goalkeeper, who spilled an easy catch into the path of Brighton’s Neal Maupay on Saturday as Everton beat the Seagulls comfortably to go top of the Premier League with four wins out of four.

While Ancelotti’s new look side – featuring summer signings James Rodriguez, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure – have looked incredibly impressive since the start of the season, question marks remain over the suitability and reliability of Pickford in a side with actual ambitions for European football.

Despite initially backing Pickford as his undisputed first choice, Ancelotti admitted after his mistake against Brighton that he may speak to the 26-year-old after he returns from international duty with England.

“I think this is not the right place to talk about Jordan,” he said after the game. “If I say something it will be when he comes back, I am going to talk to him.”

Pickford is currently facing an enormous amount of pressure over whether he is deserving of his number one spot at both club and international level.

Behind him in the England pecking order is Burnley’s Nick Pope and Manchester United’s Dean Henderson, both of whom have been significantly more consistent than Pickford over the past 12 months.