Marcel Brands is set to fail in his attempt to resolve a major need of Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton side by pursuing a Deadline Day loan deal for AS Roma goalkeeper Pau Lopez.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Nicolo Schira, Everton have opened talks with Serie A heavyweights Roma over a potential loan deal for Lopez in the hopes of bringing the Spanish shot-stopper to Goodison Park on the final day of the summer transfer window.

The Toffees have previously been linked with potential moves for a new ‘keeper this year in Manchester United’s Sergio Romero, but have turned attentions to Italy following yet another errant performance from Jordan Pickford.

Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion saw the former Sunderland man calamitously drop possession at the feet of forward Neal Maupay when unchallenged, marking Pickford’s 11th mistake leading to a goal since 2017.

It is unclear in the early hours of Deadline Day if Everton plan to sign Lopez on a dry loan with no option to buy, or whether Brands intends to offer Roma a set figure for the 25-year-old payable in 2021.

Calciomercato have also cited Everton’s interest in Lopez and note how both the Blues and Roma are striving to find a solution suitable for each side.

Lopez is not the answer

While Lopez would add first-team ready depth between the sticks Ancelotti otherwise would not be able to call upon beyond the summer market, the £15.3m-rated Spaniard would not be the answer Everton need in their search of competition for Pickford.

Pickford is once again under scrutiny for his performances after yet another blunder moment that could have cost his side heavily, but Lopez proved last season in the Serie A that he is not without fault either.

Over his 32 appearances, SofaScore data shows that Lopez committed three errors that led to goals while only keeping a measly five clean sheets. He also won just 43% of his ground duels, was dribbled past 0.1 times a game and could only complete 49% of his attempted long balls.

If Everton are to sign a goalkeeper capable of challenging Pickford this term, the Blues would have been better served looking elsewhere and earlier in the window than rushing to Italy on Deadline Day.

AND in other news, a Premier League rival is considering a late move to sign an Everton player who recorded just 0.8 key balls a game in 2019/20.