Bayern Munich Eye Jordan Pickford as Neuer Successor

Bayern Munich have identified Jordan Pickford as a possible successor to Manuel Neuer, according to Transfer News Live reporter Alan Nixon, with the Everton goalkeeper preferred on the club's shortlist to Brighton's Bart Verbruggen.

Neuer is widely expected to retire at the end of the season, and Bayern are said to regard the 32-year-old Pickford as their leading option to replace him. Transfermarkt values the England goalkeeper at €13m. His Everton contract runs to 2029, a deal that leaves the Merseyside club in a strong position to resist any approach.

Mick Brown, the former Manchester United chief scout, told Football Insider on 28 September that Pickford could be tempted by a formal offer, and pointed to Harry Kane's presence in the England camp as a factor.

"If Bayern Munich want to sign Jordan Pickford, you can bet Harry Kane will be whispering in his ear," Brown said. "It's inevitable, it's something I've seen happen countless times, and it's something we've discussed with players previously being tempted into leaving their clubs. While they're away on international duty, it's bound to have come up in discussions, and he can talk up the move, the club, the opportunity, how much he's enjoyed it. They've obviously built up a good relationship, and that could play a key role in convincing him of the move."

Kane moved to Bayern from Tottenham in 2023 and has since added five trophies to his collection in Munich. He and Pickford have been England teammates for close to a decade, and both were involved when England lost 2:3 to Spain in the Nations League, with Kane scoring in the 40th minute and missing a penalty in the 54th, either side of Lamine Yamal's early opener for Spain.

Brown added that Pickford's standing makes the interest unsurprising. "It's not a surprise a club like Bayern Munich are looking at Jordan Pickford," he said. "He's a very good goalkeeper and he's done an outstanding job both for Everton and for England for a number of years now, so he's going to have a long list of admirers. Everton obviously won't want to lose him, but I must admit, it could be very difficult for Pickford to turn down a move to Bayern Munich."

Pickford has missed just 11 Premier League games since joining Everton from Sunderland in 2017 and remains first choice under David Moyes. Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider separately that Pickford's grip on the England number one shirt is under threat from Burnley's James Trafford, a factor that may sharpen his interest in a move offering regular trophies.

A fuller breakdown of England's defeat to Spain is available on our match page.