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 (71)
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Eddie Palin
1 Posted
30/06/2025 at
18:05:42
Are we getting the Everton we all fell in love with back?
Colin Glassar
2 Posted
30/06/2025 at
18:06:06
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 they both stay!!
Annika Herbert
4 Posted
30/06/2025 at
18:41:19
He clearly isn’t good enough to be first choice.
Colin Glassar
5 Posted
30/06/2025 at
18:42:51
Annika, if hes not good enough, hes 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 a winger, and hopefully another central midfielder.
Trevor Powell
7 Posted
30/06/2025 at
18:55:42
If he had played more games last season, he would have scored more than Calvert-Lewin.
Ian Bennett
8 Posted
30/06/2025 at
19:09:13
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 can’t believe anyone wants him anywhere near the side. He’s a fucking liability.
Ian Wilkins
9 Posted
30/06/2025 at
19:19:09
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-back, pacey winger, left-back cover, goalkeeper cover. Just for starters.
Robert Tressell
10 Posted
30/06/2025 at
19:21:43
He isn’t even as bad as made out – and was the best of our centre-backs 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 (ie, less than £15M) young player whom we could start to develop.
Colin Glassar
11 Posted
30/06/2025 at
19:24:14
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
Go and watch the Spurs and Man City games 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. Probably 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 and Branthwaite came in?
Raymond Fox
13 Posted
30/06/2025 at
19:40:12
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
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
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
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
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 centre-forward and (vitally important) right-wing positions.
Duncan McDine
20 Posted
30/06/2025 at
20:59:58
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-back. He won’t ever be that.
Mike Allison
21 Posted
30/06/2025 at
21:03:09
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
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
We’ve not much to offer other than what other clubs have.
Brendan McLaughlin
26 Posted
30/06/2025 at
21:24:17
Much as I hate to admit it… I have to agree.
The main reason we don’t get business done early is because most players we are after think they can do better and keep their options open for as long as they can.
It’s been like this for years. I just don’t get the angst.
Peter Moore
27 Posted
30/06/2025 at
21:26:19
Having experienced fans up the East Lancs, in the North East, in the Capital, and also on the Continent, coming home to Everton can only have increased his love for us.
Do other non-Evertonian players see it the same though?
Do they buy into the love in?
Do their agents push the narrative of us being a genuine giant being reawakened in our magnificent new Cathedral, on the Banks of the Royal Blue Mersey?
1 July tomorrow! I guess we are about to find out over the next 2 months…
Up The Fucking Toffees.
💙
Ryan Holroyd
28 Posted
30/06/2025 at
21:34:53
The idea Moyes wants to bring players in from the end of August is ludicrous.
Ryan Holroyd
29 Posted
30/06/2025 at
21:44:57
As if Moyes is sat their refusing players like
Florian Wirtz And Milos Kerkez because he wants to only sign players as late as possible
Josh Horne
30 Posted
30/06/2025 at
21:46:05
Time and again Keane’s experience has counted for nothing and he has cost points. I would far sooner we invest the same money on a young centre half who will probably make similar mistakes but has the potential to learn and have some resale value. The odd good game when Keane’s lack of pace and ball judgement is not exposed is, for me, insufficient reason to continue to overpay a championship level defender.
Ryan Holroyd
31 Posted
30/06/2025 at
21:47:01
No, mostly they talk about money.
Stadiums don’t attract players. Money does
Bobby Mallon
32 Posted
30/06/2025 at
21:59:43
We should let Keane go and buy young charlie Creswell
Danny O’Neill
33 Posted
30/06/2025 at
22:00:02
Last summer, I’d never heard of Jake O’Brien or Ndiaye. Even Alcaraz when he arrived in January.
Apart from our Cumbrian supporters, had anyone heard of Branthwaite before we signed him? Tarkowski on a free transfer.
There’s always a few surprises. Good scouting and astute deals can count as much as spending a lot of money. We should know that from recent years.
Ian Bennett
34 Posted
30/06/2025 at
22:06:17
Smart business by Toulouse.
Bobby Mallon
35 Posted
30/06/2025 at
22:10:42
Ian we can surely afford 20 million for a player who will be worth double that in 3 years time
Craig Scott
36 Posted
30/06/2025 at
22:16:36
Perhaps Gana couldnt be categorised as dead wood but hes certainly ageing.
It appears our recruitment budget isnt as healthy as some had hoped if were not in a position to recruit a replacement for the likes of Keane.
Dear oh dear.
Gavin Johnson
37 Posted
30/06/2025 at
22:21:26
That said, there’s continuity with Keane and if he signs he accepts he’s 4th choice. I’m guessing the other two will still be able to get 1st team football elsewhere so not a given either would sign.
We can still buy a teenager who could be the next Branthwaite, like the Serbian CB we were linked with last month. His price was supposedly under £9m.
Rob Halligan
38 Posted
30/06/2025 at
22:24:04
Come on Dom, one hour and 37 minutes before your contract expires……sign a new one quick! 😂😂😂
Ryan Holroyd
39 Posted
30/06/2025 at
22:31:02
Why would lindeloft want to be 4th choice at Everton
Paul Kernot
40 Posted
30/06/2025 at
22:31:33
Craig #36. I reckon they (Moyes mainly) are nervous about starting the new season with half a dozen or more new signings with so little time to get them all working together. Apart from Forest, who I recall bought something like 23 players a couple of years ago, that doesn’t seem to work in the toughest league in the world.
This rebuild won’t happen in one window.
Brendan McLaughlin
41 Posted
30/06/2025 at
22:32:31
We’ll even throw in a few skirts…well skorts.
Mark Murphy
42 Posted
30/06/2025 at
23:19:54
Zouma?
THAT Zouma??
Seriously????
Craig Scott
43 Posted
30/06/2025 at
23:39:24
He obviously didnt want them to continue with the same style, combinations and tactics that got them into trouble in the first place, so what he managed to achieve with players he wasnt formerly familiar with should be a good reason not to be so cautious when it comes to recruiting a number of new players for the new season.
I suspect the reasons for any reticence in the transfer market may be more financial than operational, as despite Moyes getting a better tune out of the current squad, its obvious a good few of them need replacing.
Don Alexander
44 Posted
30/06/2025 at
23:51:07
And they’re right.
And they’re right because of our decades-long failure to even look like ever being comparable to any of the other founding elite clubs of the Premier League, of which we were one.
In contrast to the rest of them we’re perpetual also-rans, if we’re to be kind, and that’s all down to one self-serving shyster who was at the very top of our withering club throughout that time.
He’s left us a legacy that still inflicts major financial constraints on our new owners, and their choice of manager, right now.
It’ll be years before we’re going to be able to move on up, despite the arrival of our new modestly crowd-accommodating capacity built in a part of the city where nobody in their right mind would consider attractive.
Still, after thirty years of dross, what’s another decade or so?
……….Except I’m 70, pissed-off, bitter as hell, and profoundly disenchanted with the current state of football and its, ahem, governance.
Gavin Johnson
45 Posted
01/07/2025 at
00:03:32
Ryan #39 That’s what I said. We’ve been linked with Lindelof on a free several times, but I don’t think it would be likely, unless we were in a European competition when he could probably get 1st team football week-in, week-out elsewhere at a promoted PL club. Same with Zouma on a free.
Don Alexander
46 Posted
01/07/2025 at
00:08:13
Steve oshaughnessy
47 Posted
30/06/2025 at
00:09:27
I only get to watch us on TV and it doesn’t show the full picture that a match goer sees. I’m ok with Keane being 4th choice at CB if that is what actually happens but I suspect he would be much closer than that to starting games. Tarks is out at the start so presumably he would be on the bench behind O’Brien. However, it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that Jake continues at RB and Keane starts in the middle if Moyes thinks that is a better option than our current other options at RB. I like Keane, think he gets more criticism than is warranted and will forever be grateful for his part in starting the comeback against Crystal Palace but signing him up is a backwards step. It was probably unlikely that all the players coming off contract would be going though… it was always going to be possible that we would have to keep some we otherwise wouldn’t have
Rick Cole
48 Posted
01/07/2025 at
00:42:16
I agree with the thought that he’s either good enough, or he isn’t.
The fact is, he isn’t.
The thought of him being 4th choice is only acceptable because we all hope he won’t play.
Let’s be honest, if he is called into the starting side we will all be shiting ourselves.
Sean Kearns
49 Posted
01/07/2025 at
01:11:06
He has errors in him, and errors in the premier league lead to goals… but when his head is on straight hes actually alright and gets stuck in… hes strong in the air. Hell do nicely for early rounds of the cup etc or when we are 2-0 up and someone needs a breather…. I also appreciate that even in the darkest days he has never tried to hide under the Goodison lights and has actually stepped up BIG TIME for us on multiple occasions, and the streets absolutely wont forget the first goal in the Palace comeback or the Spurs screamer. He stepped up when we needed a hero on more than one occasion.
Lord Hughes
50 Posted
01/07/2025 at
02:15:41
With Keane statistically one of the most error prone players (leading to goals) there is, surely it makes more sense to utilise a promising academy player rather than hand him another contract?
Lester Yip
51 Posted
01/07/2025 at
02:35:41
I think sometimes it’s easy to remember someone’s mistakes but lost sight of the full picture. For those OGs, I remember quite a few relates to clipping a cross or shots that lead to goals. Remember he got himself into the right position (anticipating the incoming ball in the first place) to attempt clearance/block. I think it’s better than someone who cannot even read the game in the first place. They won’t get an OG because they never in the way.
His wages of $75K is the problem though.
Eric Myles
52 Posted
01/07/2025 at
03:51:46
And if it’s true Keane is on £75k a week as a 4th choice CB then surely we could get a couple of promising youngsters in for that and develop them.
And why wait until the contract has expired to start negotiations? It could have been done at any time before. Now he’s a free agent he’ll be looking for a signing on fee!
Izzy Selwyn
53 Posted
01/07/2025 at
04:54:16
Keane should never play for us again. Error prone and his mistakes and the way he keeps getting caught flat footed and loses his man, leading to goals, just dampens the morale of the rest of the team. Whenever I see him come on, I know we are going to let a goal or two in.
Danny O’Neill
54 Posted
01/07/2025 at
06:17:15
I don’t think you say anything that a lot of others think.
The mismanagement of the club, I would say since we won our last league title, has seen steady decline.
Brentford is an interesting one on a number of counts. One, they interestingly got rid of their academy back around 2016, opting for a B-team model. They have since reinstated it, but encourage younger players to carry on playing grass roots football. And then there was Thomas Frank’s influence, with the club using Denmark, Norway, Holland and Germany to find players.
It will be interesting to see how they fair without Frank as he has been so influential to building them over the 7 or so years he was there and the sharks are already circling for some of their best players.
Our academy has underperformed and must do a lot better. Aside from Rooney, I can only think of Barkley, Tom Davies, who it didn’t work out for and Anthony Gordon, who at least we got a decent transfer for.
Sam Hoare
55 Posted
01/07/2025 at
07:17:54
At the end of last season he started and played well in two impressive away wins at Fulham and Newcastle, even scoring a goal at Fulham. In fact since Moyes arrived Keane has made 3 starts and we won all three. I’d be happy to see him upgraded but can see the sense in Moyes wanting to keep him for another season or two.
Mike Allison
56 Posted
01/07/2025 at
07:28:33
Thanks for pointing out that Egan-Riley has joined Marseille, I must have missed that story. The fact remains that we could have tried to sign him but didnt. This makes me question our strategy. Someone at Everton would rather have Keane than an u-21 international who would instantly have a transfer value of around £10-15m before playing a game.
Or perhaps this is due to not having the leadership team in place quickly enough? Either way, were missing out on some potentially very astute free transfer signings this summer.
Hugh Jenkins
57 Posted
01/07/2025 at
07:50:28
The point of “negotiating” a new copntract is that negotiations take place.
He and his agent know he is no longer No.1 choice and a guaranteed starter for the first team. This, of course, will be refelected in said negotiations and the weekly wage that is finally agreed, if an agreement is reached. He may still leave if he has better offeres from elsewhere.
Peter Mitchell
58 Posted
01/07/2025 at
07:57:57
Some interesting debates on here about astute signings and who we should hold onto. It all pans out great – on paper. However, as the late great Brian Clough once pointed out, football is played on grass, not paper! Astute signings only become so if they a) sign; b) stay injury-free; c) play consistently well. Otherwise they become the next set of “stealing a living” “Championship at best” “Dour Davey” waste of a contract for us to all moan about. The problem is, especially for those who are out of contract, there are many options for those who we think may improve us and we may not be the most attractive proposition at the moment. Our (new) recruitment team also needs to do its’ due diligence and the rest is a gamble. Whatever happens, we do need at least 8 players incoming in the next month to get even close to a full squad, just in terms of numbers, let alone quality. Good luck to those responsible for our recruitment – it’s going to be a wild ride!
Daniel A Johnson
59 Posted
01/07/2025 at
07:59:34
This window is about sticking an elastoplast on the squad and hoping for the best.
Eric Myles
60 Posted
01/07/2025 at
08:06:22
Sounds like desperation to me and that the preferred(?) Tete as replacement deal has fallen through and leaves Keane in a better negotiating position.
Tony Abrahams
61 Posted
01/07/2025 at
08:24:02
In the summer I would call it, catching flies, and in the winter I would describe it as, getting caught frozen, but we all see a different game and because its hard to argue with stats, then maybe Michael Keane, is a much better defender than I give him credit for.
Colin Glassar
62 Posted
01/07/2025 at
08:36:35
Everton have been pushed so far down the football ladder, for over 30 years now, that its hard for us to compete with teams like Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton etc… Teams who 30 years ago were fighting to stay in professional football.
Of course well still be able to attract the odd gem eg Branthwaite, Ndiaye, OBrien etc… but only because theyve been overlooked by the factory trawlers who scoop up, willy nilly, every young prospect they can find.
Ours is a long road to redemption. The kenshite curse will linger on for many years to come. Many of us will not live long enough to see Everton back on the top where we should be but we should be feeling a tad optimistic about the future.
TFG are going to have to be creative, inventive, hardworking and focused to begin the rebuild. It may take several transfer windows to do this but they must start now.
A new stadium isnt enough to restore faith and optimism, at least in my case, we need to see real intention.
UTFT!!!
Howard Don
63 Posted
01/07/2025 at
08:56:31
Sensible move, never likely to be first choice, but a better player than many would have it and useful back up to have at no cost. Wed have to pay to replace him.
Dave Abrahams
64 Posted
01/07/2025 at
09:13:24
Don (44) Fuck the disdain Don I love your posts never let Thingy get away with what he did to our club, keep them posts coming!
Joe McMahon
65 Posted
01/07/2025 at
09:26:18
Being serious though, I do feel some of the fanbase have played a part in the club not moving on. Clapping Kenwrights Mush, still living off a team 40 years ago. And recently those thinking keeping Seamus in the squad is a good thing.
This football club has to move on.
Ernie Baywood
66 Posted
01/07/2025 at
09:29:01
If we have a youngster coming through then maybe let him go. But we need a 4th choice centre back, especially when one of the other three centre backs might be required at right back.
Of course he might just decide he wants to play regularly in his twilight years and drop down a division which would make Everton’s position irrelevant.
One of the less interesting contract sagas imaginable.
Ray Jacques
67 Posted
01/07/2025 at
09:35:01
Likeable guy but will necer be good enough if we want to improve.
My optimistic cup has just lost some of its taste.
Marc Hints
68 Posted
01/07/2025 at
09:36:28
Not sure I get giving Keane a new contract, whether he is fourth choice or 10th choice, just not good enough and was a calamity in most games I watched. Be better to coach someone like Reece Welch, can’t be any worse.
I don’t get people saying good as a 4th option, if we get injuries are we happy with the 4th option? I will be dreading it when he comes on!
Laurie Hartley
69 Posted
01/07/2025 at
09:41:00
Link
Danny O’Neill
70 Posted
01/07/2025 at
09:53:50
Sam @55. I’d agree with some of that. Keane is not actually a bad footballer. Just not consistently a good defender. My opinion has been forged over watching for the several seasons he’s been with us, not the odd performance.
He did play well in those last two matches. I think I gave him man of the match against Fulham and not just for the goal.
Dave Abrahams
71 Posted
01/07/2025 at
10:21:22
Ernie, being honest would you have offered Micheal £75,000 a week at any stage of his contract?
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