Everton Reportedly Prepare Jordan Pickford Contract to Ward off Chelsea Interest

Everton have reportedly lined up an improved contract for Jordan Pickford in order to fend off Chelsea interest in the England goalkeeper.

Chelsea are said to be considering Pickford as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois if he joins Real Madrid this summer. However, Paul Joyce of the Times wrote the Toffees will offer their No. 1 better terms "to reflect his new standing" at Goodison Park.

The 24-year-old thrived in the starting role for England as they ran to the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-finals in Russia, leading Chelsea to consider him as their heir to Courtois.

The difficulty for Chelsea is that they have yet to resolve the future of Courtois, who is still on his post-2018 FIFA World Cup holidays after starring for Belgium in Russia.

Courtois won the Golden Glove as he helped Belgium finish third at the tournament, and Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett said only when he comes back will there be any movement:

The problem is that the Premier League transfer window closes on August 9, giving Chelsea little time to get a deal for Pickford done should Courtois leave—not to mention the fact Everton may be reluctant to sell with so little time to find a replacement of their own.

Pickford isn't likely to come cheaply, either, considering the Toffees signed him from Sunderland last summer for £30 million plus add-ons and he has four years left to run on that deal.

The 24-year-old's profile was enhanced at the World Cup, where he allayed any fears that his height—6'1" being relatively short compared to some top-class stoppers—would be an issue for the Three Lions.

In contrast, Courtois has been increasingly linked with Real after entering the final year of his Chelsea deal. The temptation may be to cash in this summer and take a higher fee, but author Mark Worrall judged the alternatives and said it would be preferable to lose the Belgian for nothing in 2019:

Rob Green failed to make an appearance for Huddersfield Town last season but has been brought in by Chelsea this summer, although seemingly as little more than a method of fulfilling their homegrown player quota.

Bleacher Report's Alex McGovern felt Pickford would be an acceptable replacement for Courtois given he too could count toward the homegrown quota and looked a good bet among the current market alternatives:

It's unclear as to what terms Everton would be willing to offer their No. 1, but Chelsea could yet bank on their ability to trump any deal the Toffees could put in place.

For that to materialise, however, the south-west London giants must decide Courtois' status at Stamford Bridge and whether they'll require a replacement at all this summer.