Everton defender Michael Keane is set to leave in January on-loan.

The Liverpool Echo says three of the Blues' Premier League rivals, West Ham United, Fulham and Leicester City – for whom Keane played 27 matches on loan from Manchester United a decade ago in the 2012/13 season – are among a group of up to eight clubs all monitoring the 29-year-old's situation at Goodison Park.

Keane joined Everton from Burnley for £25million in the club's record-breaking summer of spending in 2017 and although he has made 189 appearances for them to date, netting 11 times – including the first goal in the dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Crystal Palace that secured their top flight status in the final home game of last season – the arrival of both James Tarkowski and Conor Coady this summer has severely restricted his first team action in the current campaign.

Keane – whose current contract at Everton runs until 2025 – was the subject of loan interest over the summer but after being unable to win back his place, a New Year departure looks on the cards.