Grading the summer transfer window: Everton

Michael Keane

Michael Keane has struggled as part of a four-man defence

Signed for a big transfer fee of £30m from Burnley, Keane reportedly turned down a move back to Manchester United in order to sign for Everton instead and while Rooney drew the majority of the summer’s headlines, it was the capture of the England international defender that was perhaps the Toffees’ most impressive signing.

Unfortunately it hasn’t quite worked out yet as Everton have shipped 12 goals in 7 Premier League games thus far and while Keane hasn’t been making any glaring individual errors or anything like that, his defensive partnership with Welsh international Ashley Williams was expected to become one of the most formidable in the EPL and instead it’s looked like one of the most shaky. Admittedly it’s been Williams, not Keane who appears to have lost all sense of form, but it’s still a defensive issue and Keane’s reputation has certainly suffered somewhat.

All is not lost – an upturn in form could still see Keane rise back up the ladder and prove himself one of the Premier League’s most reliable defenders as he did last season in some excellent performances for Burnley, but unless Everton’s overall form improves soon, he may continue to struggle. Perhaps a return to a three-man defence also involving veteran Phil Jagielka – a formation used by Everton earlier in the season – might help?

Grading: 5/10