Everton should sell one of their highest earners this summer and look to the Championship to find a replacement.
The majority of the 2023–24 season has seen Sean Dyche’s team play solid defense, thanks to an outstanding relationship between James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite.
Only William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have started as many games as the Everton pair, according to Opta.
Their presence at the heart of the defence has made life extremely hard for Michael Keane, who is edging towards the last year of his contract.
Should Michael Keane leave Everton this summer?
The 31-year-old may leave the team at the end of the current campaign after being linked to a January deadline-day departure.
This season, he has only started four games. The most recent one was a 3-0 setback on the road against Wolverhampton Wanderers, which left Evertonians feeling discouraged.
Keane, who is thought to make £80,000 a week at Goodison Park, ought to be among the first players let go this summer as the team looks to reduce payroll.
Moreover, letting Keane go would free up Everton to try to sign a championship player.
Sunderland star could replace Michael Keane at Everton
Dan Ballard of Sunderland has surfaced as a possible target, via Football Transfers.com.
Everton is rumored to have monitored the former Arsenal youth player during the season, and the Black Cats are reportedly asking for about £20 million.
The local media has commended the 23-year-old for his “outstanding” efforts for Mike Dodds’ team, and he has started 356 games this season [Sunderland Echo].
Getting Keane’s large salary off the books might make room for Ballard-caliber players to be signed. He wouldn’t expect the same salary as the former Burnley defender, for sure.
In addition, acquiring a young man regarded as the Championship’s top defense would be seen as shrewd long-term planning—something that Goodison Park hasn’t done nearly enough of.
