Everton will be busy this summer – and it looks highly likely that one long-serving player will be on his way out of the club.
Changes are afoot ahead of Everton’s move to the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Everton announced Angus Kinnear as their new CEO last week, with the executive starting his new role this summer.
Kevin Thelwell is leaving Everton at the end of the season, but will help oversee a transition – his successor is expected to be named soon.
There will also be major squad changes, with several players out of contract.
The deadline to extend Abdoulaye Doucoure’s contract has passed for Everton and the Frenchman could be one player out the door.
But Everton could still offer Doucoure a new contract, potentially worth less money.
It remains to be seen what will happen with the likes of Ashley Young, Seamus Coleman, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
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But for Michael Keane, an exit is expected.
Interest in Michael Keane ‘worldwide’ with free transfer from Everton looking likely
Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
Michael Keane hasn’t played much football this season.
He started the campaign in the starting XI, but lost his place once Jarrad Branthwaite returned from injury.
Branthwaite and James Tarkowski have been a brilliant pairing, making opportunities for Keane hard to come by.
Keane might have left Everton in January, but the centre-back didn’t have any suitable offers in the end.
This evening, Keane is the subject of a new claim.
And that is that interest is now mounting in the former 32-year-old. That interest is worldwide, with Saudi Pro League side Al Riyad and American side FC Dallas having been watching him.
It’s also claimed Wolves are monitoring developments.
Keane exit right for all parties
It would be the right move for all parties for Keane to move on at the end of his contract this summer.
He has been a great servant for the Toffees after coming to the club from Burnley for a £30 million fee.
Keane was someone Sean Dyche greatly admired and played fairly regularly during his time at Goodison Park. He also worked with him at Burnley, of course. Across his stints with Everton and Burnley, Keane has turned out a whopping 142 times for Dyche.
But Everton are entering into a new dawn now under The Friedkin Group, and extending Keane’s contract shouldn’t be entertained.
The best decision would be for Everton to get high earner Keane off the wage bill, and that will also then allow him to explore a new chapter.
Everton need to be setting their sights on providing Tarkowski and Branthwaite with some stronger competition.
It will be interesting to see where Keane will head. It was reported ahead of the January transfer window that Sheffield United were also interested in Keane, so perhaps the Blades will throw their hat into the ring for the player this summer.