Martin Keown has hailed Jordan Pickford signing a new contract with Everton as fantastic news, praising the England international for being a 'club man'.
Noise around the Blues' number one signing a new deal had surfaced as early as the start of the season, but with Everton finding themselves in another relegation battle, concerns have existed amongst supporters that their goalkeeper could move on to a new challenge, with Tottenham a suggested destination.
But Pickford has put any doubts around his future on Merseyside to bed by agreeing a new four-and-a-half year deal on Friday, that should keep him with the Toffees until 2027, comfortably into the era of the new waterfront stadium.
READ MORE: Jordan Pickford commits to Everton in major boost for Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell
And despite efforts by talkSPORT presenter Jim White to suggest that Pickford sounded less than enthusiastic after signing on the dotted line, former Everton defender Keown was having none of it, preferring to focus on the 28-year-old's loyalty to his club.
Speaking on White's talkSPORT show, Keown said: "The players who have done well need to be rewarded and he’s one of them."
Eager to push his guest's buttons, White asked: “What’s he showing here? Is it loyalty? Or is he unambitious? He could be playing Championship football next season.”
Keown responded: “No I think he’s a club man isn’t he? He wants to show they’re in a difficult moment and he’s committing to the club, for whatever comes forward.
"We’re hearing there’s no clauses that he can leave. One assumes though if they went down they’d be getting big money for him, so the club’s obviously looking to protect that.
“But nonetheless, he doesn’t have to sign. He wants to settle everyone down and make a commitment, I think that’s fantastic news.”
Pickford joined Everton from Sunderland for £30m in 2017 and has made 222 appearances for the Merseyside club, but was approaching the last 12 months of his contract.
Despite the Blues' struggles in recent seasons, Pickford has consistently been one of the club's stand-out performers and it is clear from his own comments immediately after singing his new deal that he is content at Everton.
Speaking to the club's official website after agreeing the deal, he said: “The support I’ve had from everyone at the club since I joined as a 22-year-old has been so important to my family and me. I’m happy here and so are my family. We love it at Everton."
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