PL defender deal could have huge ramifications for near-£30m Everton pursuit – reports
By Alex Stevens
Burnley’s pursuit of Barnsley skipper Marc Roberts could have major ramifications for Everton’s reported bid to sign Michael Keane.
The Sun claim Premier League outfit Burnley will push through the signing of Tykes centre-back Roberts in the summer transfer window.
It is said that Sean Dyche’s side held off from signing Roberts, 26, last month because they did not want to unsettle current third choice James Tarkowski.
The Sun report Dyche is happy to stick with current first choice pairing Michael Keane and Ben Mee, who have the distinction of both starting all 26 of Burnley’s Premier League matches this season.
The Burnley manager does not want to sell Keane but it does not appear a coincidence that the club’s recruitment chief Martin Hodge is keeping such a close eye on Roberts.
There have been widespread reports of interest from leading Premier League clubs in signing the highly rated Keane for a near-£30million fee.
The Sun report that Everton currently consider themselves in pole position to sign the Burnley defender in a £28million deal this summer
Manager Ronald Koeman has made the 24-year-old his No.1 transfer target, but is set to face competition for his signature from Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Everton made several key additions to their squad last month, but they failed to add a new defender to their ranks and two of the club’s senior centre-backs – Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams – are aged over 30.
Football Insider verdict
It is little wonder Burnley are eying a new centre-back. It appears not so much whether Keane will leave in the summer, but how much money the club can sell him for. The Manchester United academy graduate is durable, solid, excellent in the air, proven in the Premier League and has his best years ahead of him. Everton will need to stump up big money to fend off the likes of Chelsea, but Keane would become a more regular first-team figure with the Toffees than at Stamford Bridge, and should see Everton as the better fit. Dyche won’t be able to keep hold of Keane forever, and his Roberts pursuit strongly suggests he knows it.
In other Everton transfer news, the club have agreed the terms of an out-of-window striker transfer.
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