Everton boss Sean Dyche targets shock reunion with Newcastle star that shined for him at Burnley

Under-pressure Everton manager Sean Dyche is believed to be considering a shock move for Newcastle United shot-stopper Nick Pope in the January transfer window.

The Mirror understands that Dyche is growing increasingly concerned with the performances of England international Jordan Pickford, who has so far shipped a whopping 13 goals from his side’s opening four league games, which have all ended in defeat for the division’s basement club.

Dyche is a manager who prides himself on having a strong defensive record and was lauded throughout last season for leading the Toffees to safety despite the pressures of an eight point deduction.

Everton boasted the fourth best defensive record last term after conceding 51 times in 38 matches, but have already conceded more than a quarter of that tally in their opening four matches. Dyche is known to be an admirer of Pope, and was notably the first coach to give him his real breakthrough in the top-flight when he brought him to Burnley from Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2016.

Pope made nearly all of his 141 Premier League appearances for Burnley during Dyche’s time at Turf Moor and was named as the club’s Player of the Year on two occasions while also making the 2019/20 Premier League Team of the Season. He joined Newcastle just months after Dyche’s departure in June 2022 and played an integral part in helping the Magpies to secure Champions League football in his first term after conceding a joint-league best 33 goals.

Pope struggled with a long-term shoulder injury in the second half of last season, in what was arguably a watershed moment in the team’s failure to secure European football. However, Pope has returned to the fray with a string of excellent performances this season to help the Magpies to three victories and a draw in their opening four league matches whilst also helping the North East club to a penalty shoot-out victory over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup.

Pope’s importance to the team was epitomised by his last gasp save to deny Wolves forward Matheus Cunha’s acrobatic effort. However, the Mirror understands that Magpies chiefs could consider a long-term option with strong distribution skills, which many see as Pope’s current weakness.

Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is understood to be a potential option while throughout the summer there had been links involving Georgia shot-stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili before his switch to Liverpool.