£12.2m fringe Everton man offered to a club hovering above relegation zone

Apart from reinforcing the attack, Everton are also looking to offload players in the January transfer window in order to raise funds and free up some wages. Everton defender Michael Keane is no longer a core member of the team and is considered expendable.

Everton’s acquisitions of Conor Coady on loan and the free transfer of James Tarkowski in the summer meant that the rearguard got much needed upgrades. However, the arrival of the two sturdy centre backs meant that the pecking order would be shuffled. Frank Lampard’s preferences were immediately revealed as he went on with the centre back pairing of Coady and Tarkowski.

Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina picked up injuries in the first game of the season, yet Lampard decided to utilize Mason Holgate along with Tarkowski and Coady. Keane was overlooked again and again, hinting that the manager doesn’t trust the former Burnley defender. The 30 year old has just played 202 minutes of football this season with just one Premier League appearance to his name.

Keane was subject of a loan inquiry from relegation threatened Southampton as the Saints push to fortify their defence in the winter transfer window. However, the Toffees seemed uninterested in loaning out the 30 year old. Instead, the Merseysiders were open to cashing in on Keane, in order to raise funds.

Everton defender Michael Keane offered to Salernitana

Now, as per TuttoSalernitana (via Football Italia), Salernitana are in talks with the agent of Keane after the defender was offered to the Serie A club. Salernitana admire Keane and want to sign him in the winter transfer window as the Englishman looks set to depart from Everton.

The Manchester United academy product has slipped down the pecking order and the Toffees are willing to let Keane leave in January. Keane still is unconvinced by the idea of playing for Salernitana as the Italian club is dangerously close to the relegation zone (16th in the Serie A table) and does not want to go to a club that has the risk of dropping out of the top tier.

Salernitana will hold talks with his agent on Monday in order to convince the player to move to the Arechi stadium. EFC must offload Keane or Holgate as having six centre backs is a waste of squad space and more importantly wages. Those funds could easily be reallocated to transfers as the Toffees prepare for another survival battle.

Will Michael Keane leave in January?