RETURN OF SAINT THE0
Walcott set for St Mary’s loan switch
THEO WALCOTT was last night heading back to where it all began after holding out for a deadline-day move to Southampton.
Walcott has a year remaining on the threeand-a-half-year deal he signed with Everton in 2018 and they will technically loan him to Southampton for the remainder of that year.
And it is understood he will then be given the option of a further year by Saints, who welcomed one of their most celebrated old boys back, after he travelled to Southampton for a medical late in the afternoon.
Walcott leaves Goodison Park after just 79 games for the club – 23 of those from the bench – a cost of almost £260,000 per game, based on his original fee.
But Saints fans won’t mind that. They got £10million from Arsenal for their academy product when he left in 2006 and he returns with the hope of ending his career with his teenage club.
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti sought competition for Jordan Pickford – by pursuing three keepers on deadline day. The England No.1 has struggled with some highprofi le mistakes this season, the latest a howler against Brighton.
Eventually, the Blues settled on Sweden international Robin Olsen, 30, as talks went on with his Italian club Roma, over r a loan deal. But that came e only after they had pursued dd deals l with Manchester United for Sergio Romero and Tottenham, as they tried to thrash out an agreement for Paulo Gazzaniga.
United would only listen to a serious offer to buy Romero, even though he is third choice at Old Trafford, and has only a year left on his contract.
And th a t prompted his wife
Eliana Eli Guercio i to l launch h a stinging outburst against the United board on Instagram.
“Sergio Romero worked hard for his club. Last trophy they won, they lifted it with him,” she wrote on social media.
“He helped the team reach 4 finals/semi finals and then he was left on the bench only to lose them all. It is time for them to return the opportunity and let him go. RESPECT FOR ONCE!!!!”
Ben Godfrey completed his £ 30m move to Everton from Norwich after agreeing a fiveyear deal with the club.
The England Under- 21 international signed a contract that will keep him at the club until June 2025. Godfrey, who can play in defence or holding midfield, said: “The aim for me at Everton is to win trophies.”