Sources: Everton block Michael Keane’s move to Nottingham Forest
Everton will block any exit for Michael Keane before the window shuts after an injury to Mason Holgate, sources have told Football Insider.
The centre-back has been lined up for a loan move to Nottingham Forest following the captures of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski.
But Everton now plan to keep Keane after Holgate was forced off with an injury in Saturday’s draw at Brentford.
The Merseysiders believe letting the former Man United man go will leave them short of defensive cover with Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina already on the sidelines through injury.
On 8 August, Everton released a statement confirming Godfrey had undergone successful surgery on a broken fibula, sustained on the first day of the new season.
The statement also confirmed Mina had suffered ankle ligament damage in the same fixture.
Keane, 29, has only played 22 minutes of Premier League football this season as he came on during Saturday’s draw.
His only other outing came in the Carabao Cup as Everton beat Fleetwood 1-0 on Tuesday (23 April).
The defender has been a regular in recent Premier League seasons, making 32 league appearances last season and 35 in the 2020-21 campaign.
However, Frank Lampard has seen the need to overhaul his defence this summer after a poor 2020-22 league campaign fraught with relegation fears.
Nottingham Forest have made 18 signings this summer ahead of Thursday’s (1 September) transfer deadline.
Steve Cooper’s side lost 2-0 to Tottenham on Sunday (28 August) and remain 14th in the table.
In other news, Chelsea offer £25m plus two stars in new £85m bid for Everton sensation.