Michael Keane’s response when asked if Liverpool and Manchester United wanted him

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Liverpool and Manchester United wanted him when he was at Burnley, says Everton defender Michael Keane.

Everton defender Michael Keane has suggested to Sky Sports that Manchester United and Liverpool wanted to sign him this summer.

Keane joined Everton from Premier League rivals Burnley in the summer transfer window.

According to The Guardian, the Toffees had to pay the Clarets an initial transfer fee of £25 million with £6m potential add-ons.

The 24-year-old centre-back was in superb form last season and was a key player in Burnley staving off relegation to the Championship.

The England international central defender started his professional club football career at Manchester United, but he failed to make an impact at Old Trafford and left the Red Devils on a permanent basis in 2015.

According to a report in The Sun in June, United and Liverpool were interested in signing Keane in the summer transfer window.

Keane has explained why he snubbed interest from the Reds and the Red Devils to join Ronald Koeman’s Everton in the summer transfer window.

“There was interest, yeah, definitely, but I thought Everton was the right place for me to come, develop and take myself to that next level,” Keane told Sky Sports when asked if Liverpool and United were interested in him.

“I didn’t want to go anywhere and not play, and now I have got to fight for my place here.

“There’s a lot of good centre-halves, but I feel like I have got a good chance if I stay fit and perform well. So yeah, there was definite interest, but I think Everton is the perfect club for me.”

Meanwhile, former Arsenal star Paul Merson has said that Liverpool should sell Philippe Coutinho in the summer transfer window.

According to The Sun, Spanish and European giants Barcelona are interested in signing the Brazil international attacking midfielder.

“I think they can replace him all day long,” said Merson about Coutinho on the Gillette Soccer Saturday show on Sky Sports Football last Saturday afternoon (broadcast from 12pm, August 12, 2017). “I would sell him. He doesn’t want to be there now, he has put in a transfer request.”