Everton Nears £4m Signing Ireland Goalkeeper Mark Travers

Everton is set to sign Irish goalkeeper Mark Travers from Bournemouth for a reported fee of £4 million plus add-ons, with Travers undergoing a medical on Merseyside. The 26-year-old will provide experienced backup to Everton's first-choice keeper Jordan Pickford, filling a crucial gap left by the departures of Joao Virginia and Asmir Begovic. Travers has accumulated valuable experience during loan spells at Middlesbrough and Stoke City and impressed during his time as Bournemouth's first-choice goalkeeper, notably keeping 20 clean sheets in the 2021/22 Championship season. Everton manager David Moyes is integrating Travers as part of a squad rebuild that includes signings like Carlos Alcaraz and Thierno Barry, with Travers expected to serve mainly as the cup goalkeeper while challenging for playing time. The club is preparing for pre-season friendlies and the Premier League Summer Series in the USA, aiming to blend youth and experience in a lean squad. Travers's arrival marks the end of his nine-year association with Bournemouth, where he progressed from the academy to first team and earned multiple accolades.