Michael Keane’s future at Everton seems uncertain, with several factors pointing to his likely departure in the summer.
Although he is under contract until 2025, Keane has not appeared in a senior match since 30 December, which shows Sean Dyche’s lack of confidence.
He has made only four Premier League appearances this season, twice in August, which is not good for any professional player.
Although he has recently played for the under-21 national team and even scored a goal, this is an indication of where Dyche sees his current level of performance.
Despite being named on the bench as a substitute for games, the 31-year-old has not been given any minutes on the pitch, which suggests his role in the team is diminishing.
Keane has struggled to stay at Everton this season:
Keane is also concerned about statistical performance indicators.
His low averages in attacks (0.92 per 90 minutes) and blocks (1.05 per 90 minutes) are poor compared to other central defenders in the top five European leagues.
According to Fbref, 90% of the central defenders in the top European leagues make more defences than him and 70% of them block more.
Most worrying is his 72% passing accuracy, which puts him in the top 2% of central defenders in Europe.
Everton need to raise money through transfers:
At 31, Keane is no longer getting any younger, so the Toffees may want to offload him in the upcoming transfer window to rejuvenate the squad and perhaps gain some value before his contract expires.
He even had injury problems a few months ago and this is another factor that could make the club decide to sell.
His disappointing performance in the Merseyside derby further suggests that he may be finished at the highest level and that he is not someone that Goodison Park need in the first team.