View: Everton may have already decided to let Moyes stalwart go with replacements mooted

Everton defender Michael Keane now looks set to leave the club at the end of the season.

The experienced 33-year-old has performed admirably under David Moyes this campaign, but his contract will run down imminently, and he has not yet been offered an extension.

Keane has made 27 appearances in the Premier League and stepped in during Jarrad Branthwaite’s injury lay-off, allowing him to play a crucial role in their European charge.

While the decision to hand him a one-year deal last summer now looks like a masterstroke, David Moyes is seemingly preparing to move on from the veteran.

Everton are working hard to sign new defenders, which leaves Keane’s future uncertain.

Everton about to make major Michael Keane mistake

According to The i Paper, the Blues will prioritise signing a new right-back, centre-back and forward ahead of next campaign, in what would be a major overhaul of Moyes’ backline.

The head coach is known to want fresh options, and the club have drawn up a shortlist.

Manchester City’s John Stones, who enjoyed a successful stay on Merseyside between 2013 and 2016, is on his former club’s radar, as is Bournemouth ace Marcos Senesi.

Ben White is also wanted at Hill Dickinson Stadium, while the addition of a new right-back will allow Jake O’Brien to move across to his favoured position in the centre of the back four.

All of this speculation is only pointing one way for Keane: the departure door. However, letting the former England international go would be a major – and avoidable – mistake.

Brutal Friedkin Group rebuild looms

If The Friedkin Group move him on, it would act as a brutal reminder of this new era’s ambitions. The owners are clearly willing to enact short-term pain for long-term gain.

It has been mooted that both Iliman Ndiaye and Jarrad Branthwaite could leave this summer, with Manchester United keen on both, and the Americans may not stand in their way.

This would be another example of the hierarchy being prepared to trim down Moyes’ squad and use the resulting funds to splash out on new eye-catching signings, like Jack Grealish.

Keane still has a part to play at Everton, and it would be foolish not to reward him with a short-term deal, but conducting due diligence on potential replacements is only wise.

While there is still time for him to prove why he should be retained, Keane himself recently hinted that quality additions will arrive over the summer.

It is a cruel twist of fate that one of them could well spell the end of his time at the club.

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