View: Everton regular tipped with summer exit would be worth every last penny of new deal

Michael Keane is due to be out of contract in the summer, but Everton simply must offer the centre-back a new deal before then.

The 33-year-old penned a 12-month extension to his deal last July to keep him in place for the first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Keane has been used far more than initially expected this season owing to Jarrad Branthwaite’s injury issues.

He has started 24 Premier League games in total and has been used 29 times overall in all competitions for the Toffees this term.

Keane’s future at Everton is uncertain, but the Merseysiders could do a lot worse than offering him another extension before the season is over.

Michael Keane willing to play through injury for Everton cause

David Moyes knows he can rely on Keane to do a job at the back for Everton, with the Englishman playing as big a part as anyone in what has been a superb campaign.

Keane’s Everton contract has just a few months to run and it has to be considered a priority for the Toffees at this stage.

Speaking in a new interview with the Liverpool Echo, the former Burnley defender outlined his commitment to the cause by revealing he often players when not 100 per cent fit.

“If you had to be 100 per cent to play a game, I don’t think a lot of lads would play, if you know what I’m trying to say. It’s very rare that you’re going on to a pitch at 100 per cent,” he said.

“Sometimes you feel a lot worse than other days. But I’ve always been someone who wants to try. There are players out there who, if they feel something, they shy away from it if they’re not 100 per cent.

“But I always try and give it a go and I think that also gets you respect from the players as well.

“I’m not bothered about how that looks from the outside, a lot of people don’t know that stuff. But within the camp, with your team-mates and that, people see that: ‘Oh, he’ll fight for us, we want him here’.”

Keane is clearly someone who is willing to put his body on the line for Everton, which is a trait any manager – not least Moyes – simply loves.

While he may turn 34 next year, Keane is not exactly old relatively speaking. Indeed, if he does depart Everton he will no doubt be snapped up by a Premier League rival.

Having a squad of players with the attitude shown by Keane would only benefit Everton, highlighting just why he needs to be offered fresh terms – and pronto.

What has been said about Keane’s Everton future?

Keane has now spent nine seasons on Merseyside, and he has proved to be worth the eyebrow-raising £30million splashed out on him.

This is not to rewrite history – there have been plenty of low points – but Keane is a player reborn this season and Everton can’t afford to just let a regular player move on for free.

There have been murmurings of a new table having already been offered, which would make total sense.

Keane has been his improved form down to the trust shown in him by Moyes, who is the best in the business at making players feel valued.

For all the talk of a potential John Stones homecoming this summer, Everton’s first priority should be tying Keane down and fending off any interest in Branthwaite.

With the solid defensive foundation in place, there is no reason why Moyes and Everton cannot replicate this season all over again in 2026-27.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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