With Jordan Pickford’s move to Everton confirmed we look at FIVE potential replacements

Danny Ward

The Liverpool goalie spent last season on loan at Huddersfield where David Wagner's side defied all odds and gained promotion to the Premier League. Ward is only 23 and is already a Welsh international, so he is definitely a young player on the rise.

The main issue with Ward is that Liverpool seem reluctant to sell him - Huddersfield have reportedly been told that the Welshman is not for sale until Liverpool have properly assessed their goalkeeping options.

Ward himself said that he would prefer to be playing every week then be a back up to our old stopper Simon Mignolet:

Development-wise for me, I'm only young for a goalkeeper and to have a chance of playing week in, week out in the Premier League will be vital for experience for someone of my age.

From my point of view, it would be more beneficial (than being on the bench at Liverpool). But again, Liverpool have my contract and their needs come first, especially with the Champions League.

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Ward would be a statement signing for Sunderland, signalling their intent to bring in a goalie who just gained promotion. He is also young and would fit the remit of buying young and selling for a profit. But the fee would likely be north of £5 million, and with Huddersfield being Ward's preferred destination it would seem unlikely that we could encourage Ward to the Stadium of Light.

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Allan McGregor

McGregor had 6 clean sheets in 19 loan games with Cardiff last season, and the season before he had 19 clean sheets in 44 games with promoted Hull City. His credentials therefore are not in question. McGregor has 1 year left on his contract with Hull and it seems likely that he could be available since he was loaned out for the second half of last season.

The Scotland international would not be an expensive option - we can assume as much when taking his age into account - and his wages would be in line with what the club would be expecting to pay a starting goalie.

Whilst not the first name on anyone's lips, McGregor could well provide some much-needed experience in a position where it will be needed ahead of a gruelling Championship campaign.

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John Ruddy

Released this summer by Norwich City, John Ruddy leaves the Canaries having played over 230 games for them since arriving as a youngster from Everton.

The former England international played 29 games for Norwich last season and kept 10 clean sheets, conceding only 35 goals in the process. He has 2 promotions under his belt, including a play-off final victory against Middlesbrough in 2015.

Whilst Ruddy has been linked to a number of Premier League clubs so far this summer, Sunderland could offer him a starting spot - something that you'd expect would be tempting to a player now in his thirties.

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Sam Johnstone

The Manchester United academy product has been a bit of a journeyman so far in his short career, playing for 9 clubs, but he has since grown into being a steady goalkeeper and will undoubtedly attract attention from a whole host of Championship clubs this summer.

Last season he spent half the season at Aston Villa where he had a decent spell, keeping 8 clean sheets and conceding only 24 goals in 21 games. Johnstone is known for being very good at distributing the ball, but like most young goalies he is prone to a goal-costing error.

At Preston he suffered initially because he was replacing Jordan Pickford, but Johnstone was part of a promotion squad at Preston and therefore he will be remembered fondly by their supporters.

Aston Villa are said to be keen to resign the former England U20 international, but allegedly Steve Bruce does not have much in the way of transfer funds available to him this summer and the £5 million asking price could be too high for the Villains to meet.

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Adam Davies

Oakwell has become somewhat of a hotbed for young talent in the Championship and Adam Davies is no exception, becoming virtually an ever present for the South Yorkshire club since arriving there from nearby Sheffield Wednesday in 2014.

The German-Welsh stopper played every game for Barnsley in the Championship last season, keeping 15 clean sheets and conceding 67 goals. And whilst those figures may not be staggeringly good, you must remember he was playing for a side that were expected to struggle.

Davies only signed a new deal with the Tykes in January and isn't expected to leave, but he's certainly a player that you would like to think we have had one eye on. He's proven himself as a very capable young goalkeeper and there will no doubt be interest in him from other clubs this summer.

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