Player and cash deal for Pickford?

A report from The Sun has West Ham lining up at £17 million bid for Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford. The catch? We also send Sunderland Adrian in exchange.

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Keep in mind this is all rumor and conjecture. However, if true West Ham could do a nice bit of business. Pickford is 24 and coming off a great season for the relegated Black Cats. Adrian is nearing 30 and is a good keeper when the defense in-front of him is organized.

I really like Adrian and who can forget his heroics in the FA Cup.

He’s a great keeper on his day and a fan favorite. This season he hit a rough patch which also coincided with having a defense with more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese.

Yet with Pickford we get a keeper with the same or better skills and who’s much younger. Pickford also showed he’s able to be a great keeper without having any defense in front of him, something Adrian lacks. Sure, Pickford will have an off day here and there but so does almost every keeper.

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Ideally I’d rather send Darren Randolph Sunderland’s way but Adrian makes the deal more attractive. Randolph isn’t a bad keeper but can’t keep his form going for more than a handful of games. This makes him a suitable back-up and cup keeper but not an every match guy like Adrian or Pickford.

I’m totally fine going into next season with our current crop of keepers. I think Adrian is a great option to have and Randolph makes a great cup keeper and fill-in over short periods. Yet, getting Pickford we set ourselves up to be set at the position for the next decade or two.

If we can do the deal, do it, if not, we’re still fine at keeper for a few more seasons.