Two Replacements For Michael Keane Who Burnley Can Target
It is official now. After more than a month of speculations, it is now confirmed where Burnley defender Michael Keane will be playing next season and it will be Everton where the talented Englishman is headed to(Daily Mail).
The Toffees officially announced the capture of the 24-year old for a fee of £30million – their fifth signing of the summer already. Keane had been one of the best performers for Burnley last season, that saw him get nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. There had been a lot of rumours about his future, with former club Manchester United believed to be in the reckoning for his signature, along with Premier League champions Chelsea (Metro).
However, with United signing Victor Lindelof and Chelsea turning their attention towards Antonio Rudiger (Express), it left the playing field open for Everton to make a swoop and they duly obliged. While the Clarets will be sad to see their best player leave, the sale does provide them with a strong financial windfall to build for the coming season. Manager Sean Dyche is well used to working with a tight budget, but now that he can delve into the market, here are two replacements that Burnley should be looking to sign, in the wake of Keane’s departure.
Tomas Kalas
The 24-year old Chelsea defender is sure to leave the Stamford Bridge in the summer with no scope for first-team chances under Antonio Conte and Burnley should definitely consider a move for him.
Kalas had a fine season on loan with Championship side Fulham in the 2016-17 campaign. He played 40 times for the Cottagers over the course of the season, scoring once and registering 3 assists as they finished 6th in the second tier. Over 6ft tall, Kalas is strong in the air, technically adept, and a good reader of the game.
At 24, he still has plenty of time to develop and the signs are that he has all the traits to grow into a very good centre-half. With just a year left on his contract with the Blues, he could be available on the cheap too and Burnley should definitely make a move.
Kyle Bartley
The Swansea City man is in demand in the second-tier with Leeds United and Burnley should take a look at him. Bartley, a former Arsenal youth player, wasn’t able to nail down a place in the Swans’ setup and was sent out on loan to Leeds last season, where he had an excellent season. The 26-year old made 50 appearances, in which he managed to find the back of the net and assisted 2 more.
Standing at well over 6ft, Bartley can be an imposing presence in the backline and is known to be an astute tackler as well. A modicum of concentration and positional awareness at the back, he is only 26 and will only get better from here, making him an exciting option for Burnley to consider.