Everton: Michael Keane exit all but certain as woes continue v Chelsea
If Michael Keane had a game to prove his credentials to Sean Dyche, the Everton v Chelsea clash clearly showed why he does not deserve a first-team berth.
Despite working with him at Burnley and giving him a run in the first team in his first few weeks, Dyche does not appear to rate the 31-year-old.
The English centre-back has not started a Premier League game in 2024 and the last one he started saw the Toffees lose 3-0 to Wolves.
Michael Keane has one more year on Everton contract
He has another year left on his contract and with the club desperate to raise funds, a June sale will very much be on the cards.
If Dyche is still in charge, and there’s no reason to believe that he won’t, if he is asked to get rid of a few first-team players, Keane’s name will perhaps be at the top of his list.
He got a glimpse of his quality when he came off the bench to replace Jarrad Branthwaite in the 6-0 defeat v Chelsea on 15 April.
Stats show Everton must part ways with Michael Keane
Per Sofascore, his pass accuracy was 73% which is below par for a Premier League defender, indicating inconsistency and unreliability in maintaining possession and building from the back.
Additionally, his long ball accuracy was poor, as he failed all three attempts, showcasing a lack of precision in delivering long-range passes.
Keane also lost three out of four aerial duels, a concerning statistic for a centre-back tasked with winning headers and providing defensive stability.
Furthermore, he was dribbled past once, showing vulnerability in one-on-one situations.
Most alarmingly, he lost possession eight times, which is detrimental in a high-pressure match against a top-tier team like Chelsea.
It’s evident that his best days are behind him and the Toffees cannot continue to have a liability like this on their books.
In other Everton news, an update has emerged on the £311m net debt as the club’s financial troubles continue to mount.
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