Jordan Pickford says Everton have moved on from the Wilfried Zaha transfer saga and has backed Yerry Mina to become a top Premier League defender.
Zaha was strongly linked with a move to Goodison Park during the summer but remained at Crystal Palace and appeared from the bench against the Blues on the opening day of the campaign on Saturday.
Mina also featured in the game and after an injury-hit first term following his big-money switch from Barcelona, Pickford has backed his team-mate to grasp the opportunity handed to him after Everton failed to land former loanee Kurt Zouma on a permanent deal.
"Yerry was here last year and Kurt was tremendous," the goalkeeper explained. "He's at Chelsea and he's a top player but Yerry is very good. He plays for Colombia and we've got competition all over.
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"We've got Michael [Keane] and Mason [Holgate] who has came back and JP [Gbamin], the new signing, can also fit in as well."
When asked if Mina and Keane can form a new partnership under Marco Silva Pickford continued: "I think so.
"Michael is a very established player and as long as we're all helping [Mina] - and his English is getting a lot better - that will make his job easier when he understands our - or my - English!
"He's worked very hard with his English lessons and I think that will help him become a top player in the Premier League."
Zaha handed in a transfer request in a bid to force a move away from Palace in the final days of the transfer window.
Everton eventually swooped for Arsenal's Alex Iwobi instead and Pickford, despite praising the Ivorian's quality, believes the new recruit helps improve Silva's options.
"[Zaha's] a top player, no question about that," he continued. "He shows his talent at Crystal Palace and business is business.
"I was watching on Sky Sports when it said he wasn't leaving Palace but we moved on and signed Alex Iwobi who's another top player. I think our squad is very strong."
With Andre Gomes receiving a first-half injury at Palace and Morgan Schneiderlin suspended, Pickford remains confident Everton's midfield can cope for the visit of Watford next weekend.
"Andre controls the game well in midfield and he can spray the ball where he wants," Pickford added. "But we've got a lot of players who play in the position who can help."
