West Ham United are now reportedly the “favourites” to land Everton outcast Michael Keane in the January transfer window as David Moyes looks to bolster his defensive roster.
West Ham United are again being linked with the January transfer window move for Everton centre-back Michael Keane, and are apparently the favourites to secure the 12-cap England international’s signature.
That’s according to journalist Paul Brown (via Give Me Sport), who claims Hammers’ boss David Moyes managed the centre-back briefly during his stint as manager of Manchester United, and the Scotsman is now keen on a reunion at the London Stadium.
Journalist Paul Brown said to GMS, “I just think everyone knows that because he’s not getting a game really for Everton, that he could be on the market.
“I think Michael Keane’s decided that he’s going to have to move to get more football, so I think he’s going to go somewhere and West Ham, I would say, are favourites at the moment.”
The former Manchester United academy man has fallen down the pecking order at Goodison Park. Under Frank Lampard, he’s found himself on the fringes and has made just one Premier League appearance this season, with summer arrivals Conor Coady and James Tarkowski continuing to receive the nod in his place.
The 29-year-old came close to leaving Goodison Park last summer, with Nottingham Forest and Steve Cooper interested in bringing the defender to the City Ground, while West Ham made several other failed approaches, but nothing came to fruition.
Keane has been on the books of Everton since 2017, having signed from Burnley in the summer of 2017 for a fee in the region of £30 million. However, he has failed to live up to the heights that were expected of him at Goodison Park, and now he seemingly faces a bleak future; his days at Everton look to be numbered.
It’s been a somewhat sad fall from grace for the former England international, who has lost his way over the last couple of years or so, failing to show any consistency in his performances. With playing time appearing to be at a premium, it seems extremely likely that Keane will depart Goodison Park in the winter window, with Fulham and West Ham seemingly in the mix to sign him.
Signing Keane from Everton would be the definition of a needless buy and would attract needless criticism on an already under-fire Moyes. The 29-year-old has looked sluggish and cumbersome in possession. He’s decent in the air, but hardly an improvement on the likes of Nayef Aguerd, Thilo Kehrer, and Kurt Zouma, who are all better options than the Everton outcast.
Although Everton are said to be open to offers, there is a belief that a significant bid may be required to complete a deal for the 29-year-old, who is under contract until June 2025.
The Hammers will be better served by allocating those funds elsewhere or in other areas of the pitch, especially with them lacking creativity and directness in the middle of the park, while some might even say, they could benefit from signing another striker option with Gianluca Scamacca still looking off-color in front of goal.
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