West Ham tipped to hand Everton man an escape route this month

West Ham have been linked with a move for Everton defender Michael Keane this month. He has seen his game time at Goodison Park dry up this term and is facing an uncertain future.

According to reporter Paul Brown, the Hammers are ‘favourites’ to land his signature this winter. He has told GiveMeSport: “I think Michael Keane’s decided that he’s going to have to move to get more football, so I think he’s going to go somewhere and West Ham, I would say, are favourites at the moment.”

West Ham need to start thinking about a potential long-term replacement for Craig Dawson in the heart of defence. His contract expires at the end of this season and he is currently due to become a free agent.

Keane, 29, has been on the books at Everton since 2017 and has bags of experience in the Premier League. He has made 189 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees to date and has chipped in with 11 goals.

The Mancunian started his career at local side Manchester United and rose up through the youth ranks at Old Trafford before going on to make five first-team appearances, as well as gaining experience out on loan at Leicester City, Derby County and Blackburn Rovers. Burnley snapped him up on a permanent basis in 2014 and he spent three years with the Clarets before his switch to Merseyside.

West Ham are too close to the relegation zone for comfort and could do with some additions to bolster their ranks. Keane would give them more competition and depth at the back and is a name to keep an eye out for over the next few weeks.