Lamps can finally axe £30m "liability" as Everton plot bid for colossal 6ft6 "monster" - opinion

Everton are reportedly plotting a summer move for Leicester City outcast Jannik Vestergaard.

It comes as no surprise that the Toffees are looking to strengthen defensively, having leaked goals all season and kept just five clean sheets in the Premier League.

A source at Everton revealed to Football Insider that Vestergaard is firmly on the radar of Kevin Thelwell, the Merseyside club’s new director of football.

The news comes at a tough time for Michael Keane, who has faced scrutiny over his performances this season. Some believe that his performances this season are a large contributor to the Toffees’ ongoing issues at the back, with football journalist Richard Buxton labelling the £30m signing from Burnley “a genuine defensive liability”.

Whilst Keane has been labelled a liability, Vestergaard – despite struggling for minutes at Leicester this season – has been identified as a defensive “monster”.

Despite making just ten appearances in the Premier League this season, Vestergaard has been able to demonstrate how effective he is at the back for the Foxes. Similarly to Keane’s team-mate Yerry Mina, the Dae oozes composure when in possession, as evidenced by his average of eight passes under pressure per game, placing him within the 93rd percentile for this metric, as per FBRef.

In this regard, he is the total opposite of Keane, who is not as sure in possession and is perhaps a defender who suits a playing style in which clearances from the back were the main priority. For passes under pressure, the Englishman is miles away from Vestergaard, who also pips him for tackles in the defensive third, with two per 90.

This is a metric which emphasises the defensive prowess of the Denmark international and sees him rank in the