Jordan Pickford admits he was straight on the phone to Jack Grealish and told him to "hurry up" when he first heard that there was a chance he could be heading to Everton.
The Manchester City playmaker has now completed a season-long loan move to the Toffees and made his debut off the bench in Monday night's defeat at Leeds. Pickford and Grealish have been together in numerous England camps with their partners also good friends.
Together they've helped the Three Lions reach major tournament finals and Pickford was desperate to reunite on the club scene. Grealish's time in Manchester appeared to be up and Everton moved to land him for the next 12 months.
Their goalkeeper did his bit to try and get the deal over the line as he talked up the perks of being a player on Merseyside. Now that the ex-Aston Villa man is on board Pickford is talking up the potential of a European charge.
He said: "I’m good friends with Jack. When the Everton rumours started, we had a couple of conversations. I said he’d love it here, it’s a proper home club, and messaged 'Hurry up you!' When he told me it was nearly all done, I was like 'Box ticked'.
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"Jack has a stature. He is always smiling and lights the place up. You should see him in training, he is a top player. It’s massive for Everton to sign someone like him. We’ve got lads coming in now who have won titles. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall won in Europe with Chelsea last season. They are going to push and we have to follow."
Everton embark on their new era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium when they face Brighton on Sunday afternoon and Pickford is using the success of Crystal Palace last year as a real motivator. Their FA Cup win proving that the big boys will not forever dominate.
"Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup last season was a great example of what can be achieved," he said. "It’s a template for us to win silverware as well. Everyone knows the gaffer and his demands. I’ve had an ambition since coming to Everton to play in Europe and this is my ninth season - some paper round."
The Merseysiders are hoping to further bolster their ranks after agreeing a £42million deal with Southampton for Tyler Dibling. The young winger impressed last term and was keen to remain in the top flight.
Moyes underlined the Everton ambition by admitting that landing targets - not a lack of funds - has been the issue. "It is not we don't have the money to spend, we do have, but we're finding it very difficult to spend the money at the moment," he said.
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