JORDAN PICKFORD has proved he is a Premier League goalkeeper and will have plenty of options this summer, even if Sunderland somehow come up with a way to avoid relegation in the final seven matches of the campaign.

But David Moyes, suggesting the Black Cats’ No 1 can handle playing at the very top, believes the young goalkeeper could be better off staying with his home club if the alternative is to warm the bench for one of the big boys – even if it is in the Championship.

Sunderland are ten points shy of safety ahead of this afternoon’s visit of West Ham; a failure to win will push them even closer to dropping out of the top tier for the first time in ten years.

Pickford’s performances have been one of the few bright spots from a depressing first campaign under Moyes, and being shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year award is further proof of the progress he has made.

The 23-year-old is being monitored by a long list of clubs, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United all known to be regularly watching his performances.

Moyes thinks Pickford is ready for the big leap, even if he doesn’t want to lose him and Sunderland are in a strong position, with his contract is not due to expire until the summer of 2020.

"I think he's good enough to play for just about any club,” said Moyes. “He maybe needs more maturity when you think of him being 23 now, he'll need more maturity before he becomes the absolute real deal and it's difficult to say how that comes, but it comes with time and with games.

“And by the time he's 26 you'll see someone different. There will still be some progression. As long as he keeps himself right and doing the right things he'll be OK."

Moyes is adamant Pickford would be better off staying with Sunderland beyond this summer even if they do drop into the Football League if there are indications he will not be a team’s first-choice shot-stopper.

"What Jordan can't afford is a year when he's not playing,” said Moyes. “Whatever way you want to put that. I think now it would be a backward step if he wasn't going to be a number one keeper.

“So for me, I'd just spin that the other way, he needs to keep playing. To come out of it now would be wrong. If you play badly and get dropped for that, that would happen for any keeper but I think to be going as a number two and not number one for one year ...”

Pickford had to battle his way ahead of Vito Mannone after starting the campaign behind the Italian. The manner of his performances, though, have warranted he was quickly handed his place back after returning from injury earlier this year.

He has established himself as Sunderland’s prize asset with the summer approaching, and he is likely to command one of the highest valuations when clubs do come calling for his services.

Moyes has struggled to witness many more of his players enjoy such positive campaigns and has admitted summer signing Adnan Januzaj has not lived up to his billing on Wearside.

The Belgian international has not scored in the Premier League during his loan from Manchester United and is expected to head back there with his future uncertain.

Jose Mourinho suggested earlier this week that he has made his mind up on Januzaj’s future, with sources close to Old Trafford believing he will be allowed to leave before the start of next season.

Moyes did not hint either way whether he would try to take him back, but he is convinced Januzaj still has a brilliant future ahead of him despite a couple of years of frustration.

The Sunderland boss said: "His career will be fine, he's an incredibly talented footballer. He's got ability and I can see it every day. He can beat people he can score goals he can do so many things, he's quick he'll get better and he'll become a good player.

“He's not performed as well as we'd hoped but maybe there are other reasons for that. I'm sure you could look at them as well and think about it but I think that Adnan is a really talented player.

“If he leaves Sunderland and doesn't go back to Man U, I don't know what the plans are for him, there will be a host of teams who want him.”