Pickford No1 on Toffees list
Pickford is set to be confirmed once he has returned from Poland, where he is on duty with England at the European Under-21 Championship, which starts on Friday and runs until June 30.
Koeman sees the keeper, 23, as his longterm first choice, having alternated between Maarten Stekelenburg and Joel Robles over the past season.
Pickford, who made the shortlist for the PFA’s Young Player of the Year award before losing out to Tottenham’s Dele Alli, was one of the few bright spots in Sunderland’s miserable season, which ended in relegation as they finished bottom of the Premier League.
Sunderland remain confident of installing Derek McInnes as their new manager by the end of the week despite a compensation wrangle with Aberdeen.
The Dons are holding out for a £1.2m compensation package for McInnes, who led them to two cup finals and runners-up spot behind all-conquering Celtic last season.
Sunderland have offered £800,000 but believe a deal can be thrashed out in time for McInnes to be unveiled either tomorrow or Friday. WEST HAM are at the front of the queue to sign Manchester United defender Chris Smalling.
He still has two years left on his contract but United are ready to sell Smalling, right, for £12 million, with Arsenal and Everton also interested.
The Hammers also want ex-Arsenal centre-back Johan Djourou on a free transfer from Hamburg.