- Manchester United are close to signing former player Michael Keane
- Keane left his boyhood club for Burnley in a £2m deal in January 2015
- The Red Devils will have to pay a sum of £25million to sign the player
- Chrs Smalling is the defender most affected by Keane's imminent arrival
Reports from England claim Manchester United have emerged as clear favorites to sign former defender Michael Keane from Burnley.
NAIJ.com understands the 24-year-old England centre-back back will join the Red Devils for £25 million deal this summer.
Keane plays for Burnley
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Who is Keane?
Keane left United for Burnley in a £2m deal in January 2015 after making just one appearance for the club.
Keane's clause entitles United to 25 per cent of any sell-on fee, meaning United will pay less for Keane than any of their rivals.
The Englishman is a boyhood United fan and continues to leave in Manchester.
He currently earns £25,000-a-week at Turf Moor but United will multiply his wages by four if he returns to the club that he first joined at the age of 11.
Keane made only one appearance for his boyhood club
The defender is reportedly attracting interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
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What is complicating a deal?
Louis van Gaal allowed the player to go on loan to Burnley before approving a a permanent move.
Many critics have pointed out that it is poor for United to keep selling heir academy players only to re-sign them just like they did for Paul Pogba who was sold to Juventus for £800,000 and resigned four years later fpor a world record £89m last summer.
NAIJ.com however understands that the Old Trafford hierarchy will not be against Jose Mourinho's move if he signs.
The 24-year-old is also an England international
The player is keen on a return but wants assurances that he will play in excess of 30 games a season.
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Who will the player replace?
The player most likely to suffer if Keane arrives is assistant Chris Smalling whose performances have been disappointing this season.
The Englishman is unhappy at public criticism from his manager on several occasions however reports does not seem to suggest he will be sold.