Everton defender Michael Keane has hinted at how much he enjoys playing for Everton and the club’s fans amid January links to Nottingham Forest.
The Reds are said to be showing an interest in the former Manchester United defender, who has found game time hard to come by so far this season. The signings of James Tarkowski and Conor Coady in the summer have reduced Keane to just one Premier League appearance so far.
But, speaking back in the summer, Keane outlined how he encouraged former Burnley teammate Tarkowski to make the move. The defender hinted how much he enjoyed it at Goodison Park.
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"I spoke to Tarki probably two to three weeks ago, before the announcement," he told CBS Sports (via the Liverpool Echo ). "I just told him what a great group of lads we've got here, the staff, manager, how brilliant they've been and that he'd really enjoy it.
“At the time, he said he was coming here. I was really happy for him and looking forward to playing with him. I think we're both quite dominant centre halves. We're both physically strong, good in the air, good on the ball and we can handle ourselves.
“Playing with each other consistently always helps. We know each other's games really well, it works. Obviously, there's been five, six years, I'd like to think I've developed. He's developed. Hopefully, we can be even better."
The defender is said to be available for transfer this summer, with Forest reportedly offered the chance to sign the player for a fee of around £15 million . After securing Premier League safety at the end of last season, the defender also delivered his verdict on the Everton fans.
“We have seen how important the fans are, not that we didn’t know it, but the past six weeks were like nothing we’ve seen,” he told the club’s website during pre-season. “Evertonians are amazing, you saw that at the end of last season.
“I have never witnessed anything like the support at the end of last season.Everton fans are the most passionate I’ve known, the raw emotion for their team is something I’ve never seen at another club.
“It is not just the chanting, it is the looks on their faces, how much it genuinely means to them. That is what makes them special and sets them apart from other clubs’ fans.”
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