Everton’s search for a new first-choice goalkeeper will no longer include Kasper Schmeichel as a result of Steve Walsh’s arrival from Leicester City.
Walsh, the former assistant manager and head of recruitment of the Premier League champions, joined Everton as the club’s first director of football on Thursday. It is understood there is an agreement that Everton will not sign players from Leicester for a specified period.
Schmeichel was one of several established keepers being considered by Ronald Koeman and had been linked with a £17m transfer to Goodison. The new Everton manager is said to be unconvinced by Joel Robles’ claims on the No1 position and Tim Howard departed for Colorado Rapids before Koeman’s arrival from Southampton.
Everton have signed Maarten Stekelenburg from Fulham but he is regarded as a back-up goalkeeper.
John Stones will miss a reunion with his former club Barnsley on Saturday because of a slight injury suffered on his return to training. The Everton defender, who is expected to leave for Manchester City this summer, and the captain Phil Jagielka have been ruled out of the friendly at Oakwell with Koeman reluctant to risks longer-term injuries. Stones is scheduled to appear against MK Dons on Tuesday but Jagielka will need longer to recover from a hamstring problem.
