Everton close on Michael Keane as summer spending nears £100m James Ducker
30 JUNE 2017 • 2:23PM
Everton are expected to wrap up the projected £31 million signing of England centre-half Michael Keane from Burnley early next week as the Merseyside club’s ambitious summer spending nears the £100 million mark.Burnley will receive an initial £25 million fee for Keane with a further £6 million payable in adds on depending on the defender’s success at Goodison Park.
Manchester United will receive 25 per cent of the transfer fee under the terms of a sell on clause they negotiated when they sold Keane to Burnley for £2 million in January 2015. That equates to an initial £6.25 million and potentially as much as £7.75 million meaning Burnley stand to earn a maximum £23.25 from the transfer.Keane had set his sights on a return to Old Trafford after being sold on United’s plans going forward but the Manchester club’s subsequent £30.7 million purchase of Sweden centre-half Victor Lindelof from Benfica forced a rethink from the England international, who wanted regular first time football.
With uncertainty over Chris Smalling’s future at United, Jose Mourinho has been in the market for two centre-halves.
Everton had been the early frontrunners for Keane’s signature before United’s emergence and manager Ronald Koeman is delighted to be on the verge of landing his long-standing first defensive target. A deal is close to completion with the formalities expected to be concluded over the weekend and Keane announced as an Everton player at the start of next week.Everton have already signed England Under-21 goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from Sunderland for £30 million, Holland midfielder Davy Klaassen from Ajax for £23.6 million and Holland Under-18 defender Nathangelo Markelo from FC Volendam.
As well as Keane, Everton are expected to formally confirm the signing of Malaga striker Sandro Ramirez next week after triggering his £5.2 million release clause.
They have also activated the £6.8 million release clause in Nigeria striker Henry Onyekuru’s contract with Belgian side KAS Eupen although he is due to spend next season on loan with Anderlecht, with the six deals taking Everton’s summer outlay so far to almost £97 million.
Everton could lose Romelu Lukaku, with Chelsea leading the race for the Belgium striker, although the Merseyside club want a world record £100 million.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have exercised a buy-back clause in order to resign forward Gerard Deulofeu from Everton for ?12 million (£10.6 million). Deulofeu, who joined Everton for £4.3 million in 2015 after a season on loan at Goodison Park, is expected to sign a two-year deal with Barcelona.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/06/30/everton-close-michael-keane-summer-spending-nears-100m/#
