ENNER GONER
RONALD KOEMAN has made a contingency plan should Everton fail to land Michael Keane – Arsenal’s Calum Chambers.
The out- of- favour Gunner has emerged as an alternative to the £25million-rated Burnley defender as Toffees boss Koeman looks to continue his summer spending spree.
Koeman tracked Keane throughout the whole of last season and he remains the club’s first- choice defensive addition.
However, that deal has spluttered along with neither of the two Merseyside clubs – nor Manchester United – emerging as favourites to land the England ace.
With Jose Mourinho signing Victor Lindelof, it appears any competition from Old Trafford will not be forthcoming.
But with Liverpool’s pursuit of Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk dead in the water, the Reds remain on the look-out for a centre-half that could add to Jurgen Klopp’s options.
That has left Koeman needing a Plan B – and he has come up with one in the shape of Chambers.
Canny
The Dutchman is proving a canny operator in the transfer market and will pounce on the versatile England Under-21 star if his interest in Keane (right) comes to nothing.
For his part, Chambers, 22, would jump at the chance of moving to Everton – but much depends on a pre-season chat with Arsene Wenger.
He enjoyed a successful campaign on loan at Middlesbrough last term but Rob Holding’s surprise progress has pushed him further down the pecking order.
A number of clubs, including Newcastle and Bournemouth, have expressed an interest in a loan.
Everton’s most likely rivals for his signature on a permanent basis would be Chambers’ former club Southampton, who would be willing to match the £16m paid by Wenger for the utility player three years ago.
Koeman meanwhile can now sanction Ross Barkley’s sale – having secured his replacement following Davy Klaassen’s arrival from Ajax.
The 23- year- old skipper of the Amsterdam side is seen as the home-grown midfielder’s heir-in-waiting.
And that means Koeman has not been WEST HAM striker Enner Valencia is poised to quit the club to return to Mexico with TIGRES UANL.
The Ecuador international joined the Londoners from Mexican side Pachucha three years ago in £12million deal. But he does not feature in Slaven Bilic’s plans and the Hammers boss is happy for him to leave.
Valencia, 27, spent last season on loan at Everton but Goodison Park gaffer Ronald Koeman opted not to make the deal permanent.