Jim White has insisted on TalkSPORT that Jordan Pickford is extending his stay at Everton because of how happy he feels being at the club.

The Lowdown: Everton making smart decisions off the pitch

Despite facing the threat of relegation for the second straight season, Everton appear to have been blessed with some rare good news in the form of Pickford signing a new contract, with Sean Dyche confirming that he will be sticking around on Merseyside.

The England number one has long been a favourite at Goodison Park, racking up 222 appearances since he joined back in 2017 from boyhood club Sunderland, and he looks set to prolong his Toffees stay.

Pickford had been linked with a move away over recent months to Tottenham Hotspur but after signing a new deal those rumours can now firmly be put to bed for the 28-year-old.

The Latest: Pickford comfortable at Goodison Park

While committing his future to Everton may show a lack of ambition given how the Toffees have been performing as of late, White has revealed on TalkSPORT that the shot-stopper is very happy at Everton and has a connection with the club.

He said: "Probably, as I hear with most Everton players, he's happy where he is. Because you cannot help feel an affection and a love for Everton once you go there.

"I get that, but if he's got aspirations on a bigger scale, then maybe it's the wrong decision."

The Verdict: Showing a lack of ambition?

Signing a new deal when there is no certainty that Everton will be playing Premier League football is a very risky strategy from Pickford because if he drops down into the Championship, he may be putting his England spot at risk.

What makes this all the more bizarre is that according to Ben Jacobs, there has been no relegation clause inserted in the new deal which will mean if Everton are relegated, Pickford could be trapped into this long-term contract.

Given that Pickford has been a Premier League and England No 1 for several years now, it would have made sense for him to take the next step in his career and play European football, but instead, he's decided to stick it out with a relegation contender.