Credit: Imago

Aheed Abrar

Wed 1 April 2026 18:40, UK

Michael Keane has every right to feel frustrated with his situation at Everton ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

The centre-back has arguably been one of the Toffees’ best players this season, but there seems to be no urgency to offer him a new contract.

While the 33-year-old wonders whether he’ll be a free agent in the coming months, the Blues have continued their love affair with Manchester City’s John Stones on the side.

It looks like any decision about the former Burnley defender’s future at Hill Dickinson Stadium will only be made once the Merseyside outfit have assessed other options, which certainly feels unfair.

The Friedkin Group should offer Keane a new deal sooner rather than later, but David Moyes and the hierarchy haven’t shown eagerness yet.

Michael Keane has edge over John Stones at Everton

Stones’ situation is being monitored by the Toffees ahead of his Man City contract expiring in June, according to talkSPORT.

The 31-year-old has every trophy there is to win, including six Premier League titles, and may look for pastures new in the summer.

While there’s no doubt about the defender’s quality, his persistent fitness issues make him unreliable.

Keane has shown at Hill Dickinson Stadium that he can put in an impressive shift whenever called upon, and the centre-back has done that in Jarrad Brathwaite’s prolonged absence.

The English defender has every right to fume if the Merseyside outfit keep delaying his renewal amid their interest in Stones.

David Moyes should shift transfer focus at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Moyes has plenty of quality centre-backs at his disposal at Everton and the focus should be on signing new full-backs.

James Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Keane and Jake O’Brien can cover in the centre of defence, but the Scottish manager’s options out wide are clearly limited.

Nathan Patterson has failed to win Moyes’ trust at the Toffees, Seamus Coleman is arguably in the final stretch of his playing career, Vitalii Mykolenko could soon be a free agent and Adam Aznou’s prospects in L4 seem suspect.

The coming months will surely be a test of the Merseyside outfit’s ambitions under TFG going forward.