West Ham United are plotting a summer transfer raid on Everton should they suffer relegation, with defender Michael Keane believed to be on David Moyes’ shortlist.
According to the Daily Star, West Ham United will look to make an attempt to sign Everton and England defender Michael Keane if the Toffees get relegated from the Premier League this season. The Hammers’ boss David Moyes is thought to be a big admirer of the experienced defender.
Everton are in a perilous position at present. They currently sit in the 18th spot in the Premier League. The prospect of the drop is looming large following Burnley’s victory over Wolves. And the Toffees’ Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool has made things even more difficult.
Frank Lampard’s men will want to avert such a fate. But their tough run of fixtures – including games against Leicester City, Chelsea and Arsenal – is far from ideal to get crucial points on board. Should they drop out of the Premier League, a number of star players could leave Goodison Park.
Various top clubs are expected to be circling for Jordan Pickford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. And Michael Keane is also attracting the attention of West Ham, with David Moyes rumoured to be a big fan. Despite his poor form this campaign, the Hammers are planning on offering the Toffees man a route back into the top flight in the event of relegation.
It was during Moyes’ tenure at Manchester United that Keane was emerging through the ranks, and the Scotsman seems to want a reunion with the defender. Keane joined Everton from Burnley in 2017 for a fee of £25 million and has since made 181 appearances for the Toffees, chipping in with 10 goals and 7 assists along the way. He has missed just four games for Everton this season, and he is clearly a vital asset.
West Ham have had their squad stretched with injuries, having played a lot of football this season as they have made huge strides in the Europa League. Should they do something similar next season, they will undoubtedly need additional depth, especially in the centre-back department.
Craig Dawson is currently the only fit centre-back at the club, with Angelo Ogbonna out with a major knee injury and both Issa Diop and Kurt Zouma likely out for the rest of the season. Also, with Ogbonna and Dawson into their thirties, a new centre-back is likely to be one of the priorities for West Ham in the next window.
And adding Keane to the defensive roster would be a massive help in terms of their depth. But the England international has actually come under huge criticism of late. He has contributed to Everton’s dismal season by putting in some sloppy and error-prone performances.
The Englishman, who is under contract at Goodison Park until 2025, could end up costing in the region of £20 million, which makes the move baffling given that Burnley’s James Tarkowski and Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara are available on free transfers. Thus, shelling out significant funds on Keane makes little sense.