Anjishnu Roy 30/06/2025 25comments  |  Jump to last

Everton have restarted contract talks with centre-back Michael Keane who’s out of contract from July 1, according to Paul Joyce of The Times. He has also reported that Idrissa Gana Gueye will stay as well.

“Contract talks have restarted with centre back Michael Keane who is officially a free agent tomorrow,” Joyce wrote in The Times.

“Everton now want to keep Keane, 32, and are hoping to strike an agreement that would keep him at the club.”’

The club believes that instead of buying a replacement for the 32-year-old centre-back, it’s better to save the funds and invest elsewhere. 

The report also added that Gana Gueye and Jarrad Branthwaite will sign new deals with the club in the coming days. Like Keane, 35-year-old Gana Gueye is also out of contract from July 1 and has courted interest from several clubs in France. 

However, the veteran midfielder, voted Everton Men's Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season after a standout 2024/25 campaign, seems likely to stay.

Star centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite will also commit to a long-term future at the club and sign a new deal in the coming days. Despite having a contract until 2027, Branthwaite has been heavily linked with numerous clubs over the last year.

The Blues even rejected two speculative offers from Manchester United last summer and a new deal for Branthwaite will come as a major relief for David Moyes who is keen on building a formidable backline led by the 23-year-old and his senior partner James Tarkowski.

 

Reader Comments (25)

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Eddie Palin
1 Posted 30/06/2025 at 18:05:42
All seems hugely sensible to me. Are we getting the Everton we all fell in love with back?
Colin Glassar
2 Posted 30/06/2025 at 18:06:06
Nothing really changes. Are Hibbo and Ossie coming back? Faddy could still do a job
Gaute Lie
3 Posted 30/06/2025 at 18:35:18
Good news if the both stay!!
Annika Herbert
4 Posted 30/06/2025 at 18:41:19
Can see the thinking behind keeping them both. As long as Keane is only 4th choice,

He clearly isn’t good enough to be first choice

Colin Glassar
5 Posted 30/06/2025 at 18:42:51
Annika, if he’s not good enough, he’s not good enough.
Mike Powell
6 Posted 30/06/2025 at 18:44:55
Makes sense to give Keane. a new contract,and to spend what money we have on a striker,and winger, and hopefully another CM
Trevor Powell
7 Posted 30/06/2025 at 18:55:42
Keano might not be an aging Branthwaite but he has tons of experience and he often scores some important goals. If he had played more games last season, he would have scored more than DCL .
Ian Bennett
8 Posted 30/06/2025 at 19:09:13
Per AI.

In the past Premier League season, Michael Keane made 4 errors leading to goals. This placed him tied for 3rd in the league for that statistic. He also had 2 errors leading to shots in one specific match.

He's also conceded 1 own goal.

Pretty impressive when youve only played 1,049 minutes or 12 equivalent matches.

He is so error prone. I cant believe any wants him anywhere need the side. He's a fucking liability.

Ian Wilkins
9 Posted 30/06/2025 at 19:19:09
Gueye must stay, Keane is experienced cover, saves tying up time and money in an area that is not a priority. We have 3 good CB’s.
It feels like this is going to be a stop start window for us… linked to players with a bunch of other clubs, clubs fighting to retain players ( Tete) etc.
We urgently need a striker or two, right full back, pacey winger, left back cover, goal keeper cover. Just for starters.
Robert Tressell
10 Posted 30/06/2025 at 19:21:43
I can sort of see the logic for keeping Keane - on the basis we might start the season with very, very few players of experience and a decent number of new players to bed in.

He isn't even as bad as made out - and was the best of our CBs in the early season poor form last season.

But even so. It's a bit dreary isn't it?

I was hoping for the signature of a very cheap (i.e. less than £15m) young player whom we could start to develop.

Colin Glassar
11 Posted 30/06/2025 at 19:24:14
Ian 8, like I said (post #2) nothing really changes at Everton. I wonder how much input Moyes is having on all this? He’s always been hesitant, to say the least, in the transfer market, hence his nickname.

Ian Bennett
12 Posted 30/06/2025 at 19:34:57
Robert he's 3rd in the list for errors, and he's only played 1,049 minutes. How bad does he need to be before people want him out?

Go and watch the Spurs and City game again. The Spurs game, go and look at Richarlison's goal to make it 3-2. He's oblivious that he's behind him.

His last game for an extended period was a defeat against a woeful Southampton. Probsbly one of the worst Premier league teams in modern times.

You mention he was decent at the start of the season. How many wins did we get in that period when he played? At what point did form pick up in prior seasons when Mina & Branthwaite came in?

Raymond Fox
13 Posted 30/06/2025 at 19:40:12
I would keep Keane, don't forget we always get injuries.

He's is costing nothing only his wages and has come up with vital goals.

As for other signings, players and agents will delay and delay to get the best deal possible its not always the clubs fault.

Danny O'Neill
14 Posted 30/06/2025 at 19:46:46
Many of us have highlighted what we think Keane's deficiencies are. And that isn't based on several matches. It is based on watching him over several seasons.

At 32, he should be experienced. But, forgetting footballing and defending ability, he doesn't play like an experienced player. He seems very timid to me.

When Tarkowski got injured, Moyes opted for Branthwaite and O'Brien. It was only when Branthwaite dropped, Keane got starts in the last two matches

Not my choice, but I said weeks ago that it wouldn't surprise me if we kept him on.

Si Pulford
15 Posted 30/06/2025 at 20:00:13
Maybe Moyes thinks he can get a tune out of him given a pre season etc. let’s not forget if there’s one thing Moyes can do it’s drill a defensive unit.

No major concerns with Keane for cover as far as I’m concerned.

Martin Anderson
16 Posted 30/06/2025 at 20:05:59
Our new striker ? 😆
Mike Hayes
17 Posted 30/06/2025 at 20:18:45
If retaining Keane is a money saver why wasn’t Virginia kept on for same reason. Or did the lad want regular football 🤷
Nick Page
18 Posted 30/06/2025 at 20:19:50
“Like a new signing”
Robert Tressell
19 Posted 30/06/2025 at 20:28:11
Ian # 12, don't disagree with any of that - I'm just saying how Moyes might see it. It's not what I'd choose to do - but obviously the club and player are considering it.

The speculation around retaining Keane, signing Tete etc does hint at there being a fairly restrained approach to summer spending.

Maybe we'll go big on the CF and (vitally important) RW positions.

Duncan McDine
20 Posted 30/06/2025 at 20:59:58
Keeping Gana is a no brainer, even at 35 yrs old. However, keeping Keane is a mistake - he pops up with the odd goal (and good ones too), but his primary role is to be a solid centre half. He won't ever be that.
Mike Allison
21 Posted 30/06/2025 at 21:03:09
Moyes likes experienced defenders. That’s the only reason I can see for retaining Keane.

England u-21 and Burnley (of the record breaking defence) centre back CJ Egan-Riley is also out of contract. You never know the finances and the personal angle as fans, but I suspect he’s cheaper and more of an appreciating asset than Keane.

I agree with the general idea of signing 5-6 frees and going big in the attacking positions if possible.

Joe McMahon
22 Posted 30/06/2025 at 21:07:54
Mike, Egan-Riley was impressive last season. Unfortunately he's joined Marseille.
Andrew McLawrence
23 Posted 30/06/2025 at 21:09:42
Beto might not be the only one seeking anger management if Keane is our marquee re-signing masterstroke!
Ryan Holroyd
24 Posted 30/06/2025 at 21:11:48
Egan-Riley is going to Marseille
Ryan Holroyd
25 Posted 30/06/2025 at 21:14:43
Sorry lads but Everton are just not an attractive draw to most footballers.

We’ve not much to offer than what other clubs have

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