Michael Cooper Expected to Reject Everton Move Amid First-Team Ambitions
Everton are unlikely to succeed in their pursuit of Sheffield United goalkeeper Michael Cooper, as the 25-year-old is not interested in becoming a backup option behind Jordan Pickford, who remains firmly entrenched as the club’s undisputed number one.
On the Inside Track podcast by Football Insider, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke shared insights from sources close to Cooper. The former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper is prioritizing regular first-team football and has no desire to leave Sheffield United for a bench role at this stage in his career.
With the recent departures of Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia following the expiration of their contracts, Everton have turned their attention to signing a new backup goalkeeper. Cooper had reportedly been identified as a potential future successor to Pickford, but the player himself is not willing to sacrifice playing time just one year after joining the Blades.
Despite Sheffield United’s failure to secure promotion back to the Premier League, the club is under no immediate financial strain and has no urgency to offload Cooper. While speculation surrounds the futures of key personnel—including talk of manager Chris Wilder possibly being dismissed—Cooper’s position remains unaffected.
O’Rourke emphasized that Cooper is not currently motivated by a high-profile move, but rather by the opportunity to continue his development as a regular starter:
“The deciding factor here is playing time. Cooper would likely be second-choice at Everton, given Pickford’s status as England’s top goalkeeper and Everton’s clear first pick. Cooper knows that, and he’s focused on playing consistently. He’s still developing and isn’t ready to sit on the bench.”
Although Everton are expected to bring in at least one goalkeeper before the new season, it appears Cooper is not a viable candidate. His ambition to stay on the pitch regularly outweighs the appeal of joining a Premier League club in a supporting role.
