Everton are not interested in signing Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy despite reports linking them with a move, according to the Liverpool ECHO.
Writing on their official website (16 August), the news outlet report that suggestions the club want to sign the one-time England international are wide of the mark.
Reports suggested the Toffees were interested in the 33-year-old goalkeeper to provide competition for Jordan Pickford and Joao Virginia, but that has now been ruled out.
‘Everton are not currently pursuing a move for Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy,” they wrote.
“A report in the Evening Standard claimed that McCarthy, who is on £50,000-a-week wages at the Saints, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, was attracting interest from the Blues and Crystal Palace after negotiations broke down over a proposed switch to newly-promoted Luton Town.
“However, the ECHO understands that the 33-year-old is not an Everton target.”
The club have currently got three first-team goalkeepers in Pickford, Virginia and Andy Lonergan who penned an extension to his deal at Goodison Park at the end of last season.
Another stopper wasn’t really needed numbers-wise, and the club clearly have some belief in Virginia being the number two after he returned from his loan at Sporting CP last season.
But McCarthy would have added some fine Premier League experience and know-how to the squad, and would be seen as a far more genuine competitor to the number one position considering he’s done it at this level for a long time previously.
With that said however, his wages are high and if the club aren’t willing to go anywhere near that figure then it makes no sense to pursue a deal.
It makes no difference really whether he comes in or not, and if the financial answer is no then it’s the right thing to do as we have far more that needs addressing more urgently than a No.2 goalkeeper.