Paul Joyce of The Times in England is reporting that Everton have reopened discussions with veteran centerback Michael Keane about a return to the club.
Keane has been at the club since joining from Burnley in 2017 and has been a key part of Everton's squad since then, although he has seen his number of appearances diminish over the last few seasons due to the additions of players like James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite.
Still, the England international has remained steadfast in his work as a member of the squad, stepping in with spot starts when called upon and generally working as a good servant to the Toffees during his tenure. Regardless, the thought was that Keane would be allowed to leave once his contract ran out.
And yet the reporting is that he's being approached to stay, and for a player who'll continue to serve as the team's fourth-choice centerback, he isn't such a bad option. He can step into the starting XI if needs must, play in cup matches in the early rounds, and will continue to work hard for the badge.
Is he an incredible, squad-altering player? Absolutely not. But he is a relatively consistent one who is particularly useful when he's called upon. The issue with Keane has often been when he's asked to string together several performances in a row, and in those cases, he's shown where his lack of athleticism and pace work against him.
But the fact of the matter is that centerbacks are expensive (just look at what Liverpool are being asked to pay for Marc Geuhi from Crystal Palace), and finding solid depth pieces can be difficult.
In a summer where Everton are going to be making a lot of changes to the squad, there is a benefit to solidifying some of those places with guys who won't cost a lot in terms of wages and who already know what is expected of them, especially in roles that won't see them on the pitch very often.
If the 32-year-old is comfortable with that role for another season, then this makes all the sense in the world for Everton, who can concentrate their efforts (and money) on more pressing needs like right back and right wing.