Arsenal are set to battle it out with Tottenham Hotspur for Everton star Michael Keane, it has been claimed.
The centre-half has emerged as a top target for both the north London clubs as they look to strengthen their defensive options in the summer.
Arsenal, in particular, have been keeping tabs on Keane and according to the Mirror, the Gunners have reportedly sent representatives as they plot a summer move for the English international.
Michael Keane: A smart choice by Emery
Arsenal will look to add more steel to their defence which has been their weakest areas this season. In fact, only Manchester United have conceded more goals than the Gunners in the Premier League’s top six so far this season.
While Sokratis has managed to add more solidity to the backline, especially after an erratic start to the campaign, the likes of Shkodran Mustafi and Stephan Lichtsteiner have struggled with the lack of consistency.
In addition, young players like Konstantinos Mavropanos and Rob Holding have missed a chunk of the season due to injury, which has forced Unai Emery to rely on the services of veteran defender Laurent Koscielny.
Therefore, the addition of a new centre-back will be imperative for Arsenal, and that’s where Keane comes into the fray.
The Everton defender has impressed under the tutelage of Marco Silva this season, playing a crucial role not in just in defence but also the build-up play.
Keane’s ability to pass in between the lines could prove to be beneficial for Arsenal, whose first-choice defender in Sokratis clearly lags behind in terms of passing the ball out from the back. Thus, the addition of Keane would take the pressure off from the Greek international as far as the build-up play is concerned.
It must be noted that Keane is also a dogged defender, who has averaged 5.6 clearances per game while his tally of 1.4 interceptions per game is indicative of his good anticipation and positional awareness. This makes him a tailor-made fit for Arsenal tactical philosophy under Emery, who has employed a more attacking game at the Emirates this season.
Additionally, Keane thrives in the air, thanks to his tall 1.91m frame, which also makes him an indirect threat from set-pieces.
Simply put, the Everton defender is definitely equipped with the skillset to complement the work of Sokratis in the Arsenal defence, thus making him an ideal signing for the Gunners.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored