Football
Exclusive: Everton Set to Reward Resurgent Michael Keane With Fresh Contract Extension
Everton are set to offer Michael Keane a new one-year deal after his impressive performances this season. Keane has been a key player for the Toffees, scoring important goals and forming a solid partnership in defence. Despite rumors of leaving, Keane's consistent displays have earned him a contract extension, with manager David Moyes keen to keep him at the club.
Everton v West Ham United - Premier League by Michael Regan | Getty Images
Everton have decided to reward Michael Keane with a new one-year contract after some fine performances already this season, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The experienced centre-back has started every one of the Toffees’ Premier League fixtures this season, keeping three cleansheets during the process.
And our sources understand that the Merseyside outfit want him to extend his stay by another year, having only signed a new one-year contract extension in the summer.
Keane scored a precious goal in a 1-1 home draw with West Ham earlier in the campaign and has formed a steady partnership in central defence with James Tarkowski.
And he also bagged his second goal of the season in an important 2-0 home win over Fulham just before the start of the current international break.
Everton are still without England defender and regular starter Jarrad Branthwaite, who has been injured since pre-season, a big blow for manager David Moyes and his side.
But Keane has come in and done an admirable job at the back, one of the main reasons why Moyes and the club are keen to keep him.
Keane has started in all 11 of Everton’s Premier League games this season, with Moyes’ side sitting in 15th place in the standings with four wins and three draws.
The 32-year-old joined the Toffees from Burnley for £25million in July 2017.
At the start of the summer window, Keane was heavily linked with a move away from Goodison Park, with ambitious Championship sides, including Wrexham, monitoring his situation.
EXTENSION
Three years into his initial five-year deal, Keane signed a new five-year contract taking his stay until 2025.
Rumours circulated that he was set to depart the club in the summer after eight years with the club.
But Branthwaite’s injury and Keane’s consistent displays across close to 200 Premier League games before this season in the top-flight, made Moyes hold on to the centre-back.
He has been rewarded with some strong displays and Keane loving his football.
“I’m just really happy and feeling confident,” said Keane recently.
“I feel like I've been playing well consistently. I'm feeling really good going into games."
“I'm feeling confident and I'm feeling like I'm bringing a lot to the team.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.