---
title: "Everton: Loaning Michael Keane to Southampton would be ‘the height of incompetence’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-transfer-news-michael-keane-premier-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2023-01-06T17:45:29Z"
modified: "2023-01-06T17:45:29Z"
---

# Everton: Loaning Michael Keane to Southampton would be ‘the height of incompetence’

**[Everton](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-news/) podcaster Ryan Williams has claimed that loaning Michael Keane to Southampton would be ‘the height of incompetence’ by the Toffees.**

### The Lowdown: Southampton interested in Keane

As per an update from [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football) (via [Football Daily](https://twitter.com/RyanSoccerAA/status/1611050654876803072)), the Saints are among ‘a number of clubs interested’ in signing the 29-year-old on loan from Goodison Park in this month’s transfer window.

The defender has only made [one](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michael-keane/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/118534/plus/0?saison=2022&verein=29&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) appearance in the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) so far this season, which came against Brentford in August, and has seen his game-time limited by the arrivals of both Conor Coady and James Tarkowski last summer.

### The Latest: ‘The height of incompetence’

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/RyanSoccerAA/status/1611050654876803072) after hearing the rumour, Williams has claimed that loaning out Keane to a fellow relegation rival would be ‘the height of incompetence’ by Everton.

Sharing a Sky Sports clip detailing the rumour, he fumed: *“I’m fine with loaning Keane out, but if he is loaned to a relegation competitor, that’s just the height of incompetence.”*

\[freshpress-quiz id=”418944″\]

### The Verdict: Avoid

Everton should avoid loaning Keane out to the Saints and should instead send him to a non-relegation rival, or else keep him as a squad option.

Despite his lack of minutes so far this term, the 29-year-old is still [vastly experienced](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michael-keane/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/118534/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=GB1&pos=&trainer_id=) in the top flight, which would be useful to what is a largely [young and inexperienced](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/startseite/wettbewerb/GB1) Southampton squad (average age 25).

The Saints are only [three points](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) behind [Frank Lampard](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/frank-lampard/)‘s side, and if Keane is able to hit the ground running at St Mary’s, then it could prove to be a disastrous move from the Toffees, especially if Nathan Jones’ men were to secure top-flight survival at the Merseysiders’ expense.