Everton have made the decision not to loan out their central defender Michael Keane this month amid interest coming from elsewhere in the Premier League.

What's the latest?

There has been reported interest coming from Everton's fellow Premier League strugglers, Southampton, over a potential loan deal to take the defender down to the south coast.

However, Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol has reported the Toffees have come to the conclusion that they are not willing to allow Keane to make the move on a temporary basis.

There have since been reports suggesting that Everton could be willing to allow Keane to leave but it would need to be on a permanent deal.

But it does seem as though Frank Lampard's side would be against the notion of temporarily improving one of their main relegation rivals:

"Everton do not want to loan out Michael Keane, especially to a Premier League rival, Southampton were interested," Solhekol said.

Not Keane to loan

We are not surprised Everton are not keen on the idea of proving Southampton with a potential lifeline to bolster their Premier League survival fight for the remaining months of the campaign.

It has been a dreadful start to the 2022/23 season for Everton which now sees the Toffees slumped down in 18th spot of the Premier League table.

However, just two places and three points below Everton sits Nathan Jones' Saints who are still looking for their first league point under the Welshman since his appointment late last month.

Ironically, next up for Southampton is a trip to Merseyside to play Everton in a game which could see the Saints draw level on points with the Toffees with a win.

And given the two sides are so closely matched on points in the league, it would seem ludicrous for the two sides to deal together in the January transfer window.

Keane has not played much of a role in the Everton side at all this season with just one Premier League appearance to show for his 2022/23 season so far in the top flight.

And even that appearance came from the bench with the 29-year-old playing a 22-minute cameo in the draw against Brentford back in August (via Transfermarkt).

Although it is apparent Keane is not providing Everton with much of a boost this season, taking the risk of potentially seeing him hit the ground running at Southampton feels like a huge gamble to take on a loan basis.