In the first few weeks of the season, Chelsea have looked shaky at the back and it seems like Antonio Conte has set his sights on Keane to become the long-term replacement for John Terry.
Chelsea are facing a defensive crisis to some extent and the Blues are prepared to pay a massive £25 million for Burnley’s Michael Keane in the hopes of solving this issue according to the Mirror.
Conte, the Stamford Bridge boss, has identified centre-half Keane as the one who will be able to address the issues that the team is having at the back.
It has been said that Chelsea have made a preliminary inquiry about Keane. In the summer transfer window Keane was wanted by the Premier League champions, Leicester. However, Burnley reportedly rejected a number of bids from the champions. Leicester made a final bid of £15 million for the 23 year old player, but this to was rejected. Keane started his career at Manchester United and last year he was able to leave for just £2 million.
Chelsea are sure that they will be able to succeed where Leicester failed. Burnley though are thought to be offering Keane a new contract in the hopes of keeping him at Turf Moor.
On the transfer deadline day, Chelsea did re-sign David Luiz from Paris St Germain, but even so, they are still letting a high volume of goals in, which was seen when they lost 3-0 to Arsenal.
Conte and Michael Emenalo, Chelsea’s technical director, are both believed to see that the successor to John Terry should be Keane. Terry is injured at the moment and at the end of the season he will be out of contract.
The transfer window will re-open in January and Burnley are expecting a number of fresh bids for Keane, however, they are determined to hold on to the England Under 21 star for the rest of the season.
Keane currently has two years left on his contract deal and was key in helping Burnley be promoted back to the Premier League in his first attempt last season. Since he managed to do this, Keane has been in demand by fellow Prem clubs.
Keane has said that he does not regret the chance he had to join Leicester City even though he would have been playing in Champions League right now. He has also said that it is flattering to have such interest from these types of teams, but he is “happy at Burnley“.
Keane previously progressed through the academy with Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba. He has said that he is satisfied with the decision he made to leave the club as it has given him the chance to grow as a player.
Time will tell if Keane will be staying at Burnley or if Chelsea is successful in securing this now top rated player.
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