Everton have perfect Michael Keane succession plan in place as talks begin for LaLiga star
Everton are in the market for defensive reinforcements and already have their eyes set on a player who is very similar to Michael Keane.
Keane has been a regular for Everton this season, starting 15 of the Toffees 16 Premier League matches and both EFL Cup ties.
However, Keane is out of contract with Everton next summer and may well be on his way out of Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Jarrad Branthwaite’s injury issues have left Everton light, but the England international is expected to return in early 2026 having so far failed to featured this term.
Everton clearly have an eye on the long term, however, amid fresh reports emerging ahead of the January transfer window.
Everton set sights on Real Betis defender Nobel Mendy
David Moyes confirmed Everton are looking for new players in January, but only if the right options become available.
Now, according to transfer specialist Rudy Galetti via his personal Substack, Everton have added Real Betis defender Nobel Mendy to their list of defensive targets.
Mendy is currently on loan with Rayo Vallecano, where his displays are said to be catching the eye of Everton chiefs.
The report adds that Everton have made preliminary contact to explore a deal for Mendy, but no formal offers have been made at this stage.
Mendy’s future is described as “interesting” as Rayo Vallecano are due to face Real Betis next, and the latter will ultimately decide what to do with the 21-year-old.
Mendy could not be more alike Michael Keane
As per data provided by FBref, Keane is fourth on the list of players most comparable to Mendy in terms of their performances over the past 12 months.
That includes a number of metrics ranging from defensive to attacking, such as goals and assists combined per 90 (0.16 for Mendy compared to 0.14 for Keane).
| Keane | Everton all comps 2025-26 |
| Games played | 17 |
| Goals scored | 2 |
| Clearances per 90 | 6.9 |
| Pass completion percentage | 86.9 |
Mendy completes 85.8 per cent of his passes, compared to 85.9 per cent for Keane, while they win 53.8 per cent and 59.8 per cent of their aerial duels respectively.
Keane has been solid at the back this season, but his contract situation, combined with his age, means a replacement is needed before long.
Not a great amount is known about Mendy, but it may well be he is the perfect option to slot seamlessly in.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @goodisonnews