The £35m game-changing signing who would take Tottenham back to Champions League football

It was a Sunday afternoon that succinctly showcased the entire, complex spectrum of Jordan Pickford’s character. At one end, we had the seething, swaggering wind-up merchant; butting heads, locking horns, and smirking as he did so. At the other, we had the ever-reliable custodian, the one who consistently produces big saves in even bigger moments, and who is still able to gather himself and speak with an impressive maturity as the dust settles around his spent efforts.

The England number one remains a divisive figure. For every advocate who stubbornly extolls his plentiful virtues, there is a naysayer with a dull-witted joke about his apparent little arms attached to a gif of the T-Rex from Toy Story just waiting, cocked and loaded, in their Twitter drafts. Whatever your personal view on Pickford is, however, there is no denying that he has played an integral role in keeping Everton in the Premier League these past two seasons. It is no exagerration to suggest that without him, they might well be a Championship club by now.

Against Bournemouth, on a final day in which the Toffees absolutely could not afford to falter, Pickford kept a clean sheet and then spoke frankly about the need for his side to improve next season if they are to avoid a similarly fraught repeat of their miserable escapologist act. Whether he will be there to help them enact that change, however, is not overly clear.

Despite having put pen to paper on a contract extension in late February, speculation continues to swirl around the 29-year-old. Had Everton been relegated, he almost certainly would have left. Even in the event of their survival, there’s an argument to be made for him deserving bigger and better things. Coincidentally, a number of top Premier League clubs are expected to be on the hunt for a new goalkeeper this summer, and none more so than Tottenham Hotspur.

It is a poorly-kept secret that after years of service, Hugo Lloris has already played his last game for Spurs. Deputy Fraser Forster has stood in over the past few weeks to decent effect, but the likelihood is that the club will look to make a more permanent addition in that area over the coming months.

Pickford, for his part, is a player who has been touted for a move to north London before. As of March, with Everton’s Premier League status still hanging firmly in the balance, it was reported that Spurs were lining up a £35 million swoop for the stopper, even after he had signed a new deal at Goodison Park. Of course, things have been altered somewhat by the Toffees’ last ditch getaway, but the fact still remains that they need a new ‘keeper and Pickford has too much quality to be fighting a perpetual relegation battle.

His shot-stopping and distribution make him a valuable asset, and while his temperament isn’t for everyone, there’s no denying that he carries a presence. In a team that has been as insipid as Tottenham have this season, a couple more firebrands wouldn’t go amiss.

Everton would demand a hefty fee, you presume - especially considering Pickford’s current contract on Merseyside runs until 2027 - but they also need a rebuild of their own this summer, and with funds expected to be tight once more, a big sale or two could be in the offing.

On paper, then, it’s a move that could work for all concerned; Spurs get their new goalkeeper, Pickford gets the illustrious move he arguably deserves, and Everton get the money they need to reinforce an ailing squad. Rarely does something make so much sense. As such, Sod’s law dictates that it will probably not happen - but it absolutely should.