According to various reports, Everton boss Ronald Koeman is pretty confident that he would be able to land Premier League revelation Michael Keane, who is currently with Burnley. The Dutch manager has brought in midfielders and attackers in the January transfer window and his next target is to bolster the defence.
The Toffees have disposed of Bryan Oviedo to Sunderland last transfer window and is yet to fill the void. Former skipper Phil Jagielka is nearing his end and lack of first team action will most probably see him out of Goodison Park at the end of the season, which means defensive reinforcements is an absolute necessity soon.
Koeman has Funes Mori and Ashley Williams but doesn’t have a potent backup option in that position other than Jagielka. Keane would definitely fit the bill quite well. The England international has been phenomenal this season for Burnley and that has been one of the main reasons the Clarets are overperforming so far. He starred in Burnley’s crucial away game against Hull City last weekend where his goal secured a point for them.
He has won 57% of his average duels with a passing accuracy of 75%. The 6ft 3inch defender started on the right early in his career and has now developed into a natural centre-half. Keane was on the team that won the FA Youth Cup with Lingard and Pogba but couldn’t convince the then boss Alex Ferguson. And although United are a staunch admirer of the centre-half now, he is not likely to make a move to his former club.
Koeman is reportedly happy to pay the £20m that Burnley boss Sean Dyche is demanding for the 24-year-old former Manchester United man. After missing out on Sunderland’s Lamine Kone and Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk in the winter, the Everton boss will leave no stones unturned to land Keane.
Although Koeman is quite confident, the deal is unlikely to be an easy one as clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United are all after his signature. If Everton secures a UEFA Europa qualification spot this season, which they are increasingly likely to attain given their current form, Keane wouldn’t think much before departing Turf Moor. Keane alongside Williams would be a brilliant combination to work with especially if the Toffees are playing on the European platform.
Keane is not the only player on his wish list as reports have emerged that Koeman is also targeting Hull City’s Abel Hernandez in a £20m summer move that will also see Oumar Niasse complete a permanent move to the Tigers.
