Pundit Tam McManus has claimed that Michael Keane moving to West Ham United in the January transfer window 'could look terrible' for Everton.
The Lowdown: Loan exit...
As per The Liverpool Echo, Keane is set to leave Goodison Park on loan in January, with Leicester City and Fulham among a group of eight clubs all monitoring his situation.
Another one of those teams is West Ham, who are struggling alongside the Merseyside club near the bottom of the Premier League table.
The Latest: McManus stunned
Speaking to Football Insider, McManus has claimed that Keane moving to the Hammers 'could look terrible' for Frank Lampard's team, given the close proximity of the two sides near the foot of the league:
“From the Everton side, it could look terrible.
“Imagine Keane goes to West Ham then West Ham stay up while Everton go down. What if Coady or Tarkowski gets injured?
“Who do they have, Mina? That’s about it. I think Keane is a quality player and someone Everton should be looking to keep around.
“Why would you loan him to a relegation rival? You are not even getting a fee in that case, or maybe you get a small one.
“I just don’t get that at all. Why make your rival stronger at a time when they are struggling? If they do go ahead with this deal it would be great for West Ham and bad for Everton.
“You would have to ask ‘what are they doing?’.”
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The Verdict: Loan abroad if possible
There is no doubt that Keane needs to move away from the Toffees, having only featured three times so far this season, and only once in the top flight (Transfermarkt).
However, if they are to loan him out, they should be looking to move him abroad rather than to a Premier League rival.
The Blues will know themselves how much a loan signing could strengthen a rival having brought in Conor Coady from Wolves, who has been a bottom of the league table.
Nonetheless, they will not want to give West Ham or any other sides in and around them any sort of encouragement going into the second part of the campaign.