Premier League giants Everton took a punt on Burnley defender Michael Keane, allowing Leicester City to snap up Harry Maguire from Hull City.
Everton were on the lookout for a homegrown, promising defender in the summer and it appears they had whittled down their shortlist to two candidates, according to the Liverpool Echo – Burnley’s Michael Keane and Hull City’s Harry Maguire.
In the end of course, Everton went for Keane, paying £30 million to bring the England international to Goodison Park.
Maguire, meanwhile, swapped relegated Hull for Leicester for £13 million less. And it is fair to say there is little debate about who pulled off the better deal.
According to the Mirror, Everton are ready to ditch Keane as early as the summer after a dreadful debut campaign on Merseyside. The 25-year-old started badly under Ronald Koeman and has fallen down the pecking order since Sam Allardyce took over.
It is understood that former club Burnley would be keen to re-sign the former Manchester United youngster, and Everton know they would not receive anything like the £30 million they splashed out just a few months ago.
Maguire, however, is going from strength to strength at Leicester. A powerful yet technical centre-back, the one-time Sheffield United prospect is arguably the complete modern defender.
So while Keane’s price-tag and reputation has dwindled, Maguire’s rise continues unabated. If Everton could turn back the clock, it is unlikely the Burnley man would have been their first choice knowing what they know now.
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