Former Liverpool goalkeeper reveals he urged Reds to sign Jordan Pickford before Everton made move
Chris Kirkland told Anfield chiefs to snap up the youngster three years ago after working with him at Preston
Chris Kirland has told talkSPORT how he urged his former club Liverpool to sign England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, long before he joined Merseyside rivals Everton.
Pickford moved from Sunderland to Goodison Park last summerin a deal that could be worth up to £30million.
Many baulked at the 24-year-old's transfer fee – a club record and one which made Pickford the third most expensive goalkeeper in history – but he enjoyed a brilliant first year for the Toffees – winning their Player, Players’ Player and Young Player of the Season awards.
His impressive club form also saw the young goalkeeper picked as England’s number one for the World Cup, where he has produced penalty shootout heroics to help the Three Lions to reach the quarter-finals.
While Pickford has enjoyed success for Everton and the Three Lions, though, their Merseyside rivals' goalkeeper struggles have continued - with Loris Karius costing the Reds big in last season's Champions League final.
And Kirkland has revealed the Reds' woes would have been solved had they listened to his advise, having told Anfield chiefs to sign Pickford after spending the 2015/16 season alongside him at Preston North End.
He told talkSPORT host Jim White, before England's victory over Colombia: “I tried to get Liverpool to sign Jordan two or three years ago when I was at Preston with him.
“I was raving about him to the Liverpool staff, saying this lad is the best I’ve worked with.
“I told them he is going to be something special – but not many people take notice of me to be honest!
“Unfortunately they didn’t get him and Everton have got, for me, a steal even at £30million.”
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