Sky Sports presenter Joe Thomlinson has spoken on the Football Daily YouTube channel about how Everton have to bring in an upgrade on Michael Keane this summer.
Keane was a relatively big signing for Everton in 2017 as they splashed out £25.6 million on a former Man United reject, but given he’s started the most games out of any Toffees defender this season, he appears to be part of the big problem at the back, having shipped 46 goals this campaign.
Will Lampard keep Everton up?
Yes!
No!
Unlike in the summer, January saw Everton splash a bit of cash about with four new players arriving, however, not one of them were a centre-back, leaving Frank Lampard with options such as Mason Holgate, Keane, an injury-prone Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey.
Speaking before the Toffees’ drubbing at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night, Thomlinson claimed that Everton must improve the centre of their defence this upcoming transfer window.
He said: “They can’t keep playing like they’re playing at the moment, that defence, like Michael Keane, I think is an upgrade needed.”
TIF Thoughts on Keane…
Of their outfield players, the 29-year-old has played the most minutes of Premier League football for the Toffees this season, and that may be quite surprising because it’s been a less than great season, with Keane having made the joint-most errors leading to a shot on goal by the opposition within the Everton squad (FBRef).
It’s not just defending that’s been a problem for Keane, though, as he’s also been finding it tough on the ball, with 22 of his passes going out of play, which is only fewer than Ben Godfrey and Jordan Pickford – showing that there’s an obvious weakness which has to be addressed this summer.
In other news: ‘We can all agree’ – Sky Sports man claims Everton 24 y/o has ‘got to go’