Everton set to snap up English defender

UPDATE: January 22, 11:45am BST

The Daily Star are reporting that Manchester City have now joined Everton and Leicester City in the chase for the defender.

Burnley’s central defender Michael Keane has turned down talks to extend his contract and will be looking to leave the club this coming summer. The 23-year-old former England youth international still has a year and a half left on his current deal, but is looking to move on.

He has been previously linked with Chelsea and Manchester United as well, but it’s Everton who are in pole position to snap him come the summer.

The player has family in the North West and would like to remain in the area. The Clarets had previously rejected a £17m bid for him from Leicester City during the summer transfer window, but are now resigned to losing the defender with just one year of his contract left.

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Ronald Koeman will be looking to bolster the Blues’ defensive ranks with ageing captain Phil Jagielka showing rapid deterioration this season and Ashley Williams no spring chicken at 33. Ramiro Funes Mori has been inconsistent when starting and youngsters Mason Holgate and Tyias Browning are the future at the position.

The Manchester United Academy graduate had a good game against the Toffees earlier in the season, keeping Romelu Lukaku mostly quiet at Turf Moor. He has made 18 appearances for Burnley this season, scoring one goal and getting a call up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

Last season in the Championship he played in 44 games, scoring 5 times and picking up 3 assists. Keane had started off as a Republic of Ireland youth international playing three times before switching allegiances to England and featuring in 24 games at the Under-21 and younger levels.