Michael Keane set to leave Everton on loan in January
Michael Keane is set to leave Everton on loan with eight clubs “monitoring” the 29-year-old ahead of the January window, according to the Liverpool Echo.
West Ham United, Fulham and Leicester City are understood to be three of the clubs vying for his services with Keane struggling for game time at Goodison Park (Liverpool Echo, 1 December).
The defender was subject to interest over the summer and with James Tarkowski and Conor Coady being Frank Lampard’s go-to central defenders, a January exit now seems likely.
Makes sense
It was recently reported by 90min (30 November) that Keane was of interest to West Ham United, with David Moyes looking to find a replacement for Craig Dawson who looks set to leave the club in January. With Keane not being considered by Lampard, it makes sense for the Toffees to loan the defender out in the new year.
At 29, he will want to be playing regular football and not warming the bench for Everton. Furthermore, moving Keane on could allow for Everton to pursue a move for long-term target Rodrigo Becao, with the club keeping a keen eye on the Brazilian’s situation at Udinese (Tutto Udinese, 23 November).
January could well be an interesting month for Lampard, with the Everton boss desperately needing attacking reinforcements to drag his side away from the relegation zone. Some poor form heading into the World Cup break has heaped the pressure on the Everton boss.
The 44-year-old desperately needs a win or two when the Premier League restarts at the end of December.