Leicester City’s Missed Opportunity: How Close Were teh Foxes to Landing England’s Jordan Pickford?
Table of Contents
The Premier League’s international break can feel like an eternity for fans, but it also provides an opportunity to reflect on past transfer sagas and “what ifs.” One such scenario involves Leicester city and England’s undisputed number one goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford.
While Leicester City fans are rightly excited about their current squad, including the remarkable Mads Hermansen, it’s worth remembering a time when the Foxes were heavily linked with a move for Pickford. Before his rise to prominence at Everton and his cemented status as England’s first-choice keeper, Pickford was a highly sought-after prospect at Sunderland.
The story goes that Leicester City, under the guidance of a former director of football, were seriously considering a bid for the young goalkeeper. This same director, according to reports, was also keeping tabs on a certain Erling Haaland. While Haaland ultimately landed elsewhere, the Pickford pursuit highlights Leicester’s ambition at the time.
Pickford’s journey from Sunderland to Everton is well-documented. He joined the Toffees for a reported £30 million,a significant fee for a goalkeeper at the time. He quickly established himself as the starter at Goodison Park and soon became a mainstay for the Three Lions.
But how close were Leicester City to actually securing his signature? Reports suggest that Sunderland received an awful lot of money
as an offer from Leicester. While the exact figure remains undisclosed, it was clearly a substantial bid. Ultimately, the deal fell thru, and Pickford headed to Merseyside.
The question remains: why didn’t the transfer materialize? Several factors could have played a role. Perhaps Sunderland preferred Everton’s offer, or maybe Pickford himself favored a move to Liverpool. It’s also possible that Leicester City had reservations about the transfer fee or Pickford’s suitability for their system at the time.
Looking back, it’s easy to play the “what if” game. Would Pickford have reached the same heights at Leicester City? Would the Foxes have enjoyed even greater success with him between the posts? These are questions that will forever remain unanswered.
Though, Leicester City fans can take solace in the fact that they now have a promising goalkeeper in Mads Hermansen. the Danish international has impressed with his shot-stopping ability and distribution, suggesting that the Foxes have found a worthy successor to Kasper Schmeichel.
The Pickford saga serves as a reminder that even the best-laid plans can fall apart in the unpredictable world of football transfers. It also highlights the importance of scouting and identifying young talent before they become household names.
Further examination could explore the specific reasons why the Pickford deal collapsed, including interviews with individuals involved in the negotiations. It would also be engaging to compare Pickford’s career trajectory with that of other goalkeepers who were linked with Leicester City around the same time.
Ultimately, the story of Leicester City’s near-miss with Jordan pickford is a engaging glimpse into the complex world of football transfers and the “what ifs” that haunt every club.
Leicester City’s Missed opportunity: How Close Were the Foxes to Landing England’s jordan Pickford?
The premier League’s international break can feel like an eternity for fans, but it also provides an opportunity to reflect on past transfer sagas and “what ifs.” One such scenario involves Leicester City and England’s undisputed number one goalkeeper, Jordan pickford.
While Leicester City fans are rightly excited about their current squad, including the remarkable Mads Hermansen, it’s worth remembering a time when the Foxes were heavily linked with a move for Pickford. Before his rise to prominence at Everton and his cemented status as England’s first-choice keeper, Pickford was a highly sought-after prospect at Sunderland.
The story goes that Leicester City, under the guidance of a former director of football, were seriously considering a bid for the young goalkeeper. This same director, according to reports, was also keeping tabs on a certain Erling Haaland. While Haaland ultimately landed elsewhere, the Pickford pursuit highlights Leicester’s ambition at the time.
Pickford’s journey from Sunderland to Everton is well-documented. He joined the Toffees for a reported £30 million, a meaningful fee for a goalkeeper at the time. He quickly established himself as the starter at Goodison Park and soon became a mainstay for the Three Lions.
But how close were leicester City to actually securing his signature? Reports suggest that Sunderland received “an awful lot of money” as an offer from Leicester. While the exact figure remains undisclosed, it was clearly a significant bid. Ultimately,the deal fell through,and Pickford headed to Merseyside.
The question remains: why didn’t the transfer materialize? Several factors could have played a role. Perhaps Sunderland preferred Everton’s offer, or maybe Pickford himself favored a move to Merseyside. It’s also possible that Leicester city had reservations about the transfer fee or Pickford’s suitability for their system at the time. One cannot ignore the possibility of competing wage structures and incentives packages between the two clubs.
Looking back, it’s easy to play the “what if” game. Would Pickford have reached the same heights at leicester City? Would the Foxes have enjoyed even greater success with him between the posts? These are questions that will forever remain unanswered. However, we can analyze the potential impact further.
To illustrate the potential impact of Pickford’s arrival at Leicester City, let’s compare some key statistics related to their goalkeeping performance around the time of the transfer speculation. Consider this comparison of Kasper Schmeichel, Leicester’s goalkeeper during that period, against Jordan Pickford’s performance at Everton soon after.
Goalkeeper Comparison: Schmeichel vs. Pickford (2017-2018 Season)

Note: The data presented in the table is hypothetical and used for demonstration purposes only. Actual figures would need to be sourced from legitimate sports statistics providers. Nevertheless, the comparison highlights areas where Pickford’s strengths could have potentially benefited Leicester City, such as his shot-stopping ability at the time.
Though Leicester City fans can take solace in the fact that they now have a promising goalkeeper in Mads Hermansen. The Danish international has impressed with his shot-stopping ability and distribution, suggesting that the Foxes have found a worthy successor to Kasper Schmeichel, building on the legacy the club had at the position.
The Pickford saga serves as a reminder that even the best-laid plans can fall apart in the unpredictable world of football transfers. It also highlights the importance of scouting and identifying young talent before they become household names. One must recognize the complexity of a prosperous deal, involving not only the player’s performance but also the club’s strategy and ultimately, the player’s choice.
Further examination could explore the specific reasons why the Pickford deal collapsed, including interviews with individuals involved in the negotiations. It would also be engaging to compare pickford’s career trajectory with that of other goalkeepers who were linked with Leicester City around the same time, such as Jack Butland or even Angus Gunn.
Ultimately, the story of Leicester City’s near-miss with Jordan Pickford is an engaging glimpse into the complex world of football transfers and the “what ifs” that haunt every club.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
To further clarify the details surrounding Leicester City’s pursuit of Jordan Pickford, here are some of the most frequently asked questions:
- Q: When did Leicester city reportedly try to sign Jordan Pickford?
- A: The period of interest seems to have been around the time Pickford was still at Sunderland, likely before his move to Everton in summer 2017.
- Q: How much did Everton pay for Jordan Pickford?
- A: Everton signed Pickford for a reported fee of £30 million.
- Q: What factors could have led to the Pickford transfer to Leicester City failing?
- A: Several reasons. These could include financial considerations, player preference, Sunderland’s willingness to accept Everton’s offer, or Leicester City having reservations about his suitability for their tactics.
- Q: How has Jordan Pickford performed as joining Everton?
- A: Pickford quickly became Everton’s number one goalkeeper and has consistently performed at a high level, earning him the starting spot for England’s national team. he has become well known for penalty saves and his distribution has helped him become a Premier League regular.
- Q: Who is leicester City’s current goalkeeper?
- A: Leicester City’s current primary goalkeeper is Mads Hermansen, who has shown promise in the position.
- Q: How does Mads Hermansen compare to Kasper Schmeichel?
- A: It’s still early in Hermansen’s Leicester City career, but initial observations suggest potential in areas such as shot-stopping and distribution.
- Q: what is the current transfer market like for goalkeepers?
- A: The transfer market for goalkeepers is dynamic and affected by emerging stars and the demand placed on their shot-stopping and distribution qualities.