West Ham United have emerged as the favourites to land out-of-favour Everton defender Michael Keane, according to journalist Paul Brown.
David Moyes is reportedly keen to reinforce his defensive options as the Hammers continue to struggle in the Premier League, and could look for a reunion with Keane, having briefly overlapped during their time at Manchester United.
Indeed, it is no secret that the England international may be surplus to requirements at Goodison Park, having fallen down Frank Lampard’s defensive pecking order, making just 1 appearance so far this campaign with summer signings James Tarkowski and the on-loan Conor Coady establishing themselves as the first-choice centre back partnership.
Consequently, Keane has been linked with a move elsewhere in recent weeks with the likes of Leicester City, Nottingham Forest and West Ham United all rumoured to be interested as the January transfer window approaches, but Brown believes that the London Stadium is the most likely destination.
He said, “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.”
Keane has been something of a liability at the back for the Blues for a number of years now and has never shown the kind of form that prompted the £25 million acquisition of the centre-back from Burnley in the summer of 2017.
Having reached an agreement for a contract extension with the club in 2020, Keane’s current deal runs until 2025, so Everton can expect some kind of return on their investment, should the defender depart next month, freeing up money for Lampard to reinvest in his squad.