Tom Keane, Brother Of Everton's Michael Keane, Set To Join Manchester United On Consultancy Basis

Tom Keane, brother of Everton defender and ex-Manchester United centre-back Michael Keane, is set to join Manchester United to replace transfer chief Matt Judge, according to reports.

Reports from Adrian Kajumba and Sami Mokbel have said that Keane is set to join Manchester United on a consultancy basis, and will pick up the responsibilities left by the departed Judge, who was the club’s director of transfer negotiations.

With fans frustrated at the slow pace of Manchester United’s window so far, the appointment of Keane may help calm the angst and get deals such as Frenkie de Jong over the line at a pace that suits what the club needs.

Keane is a solicitor from legal firm Brandsmiths, who are based in both Manchester and London – just like Manchester United, who although based in Manchester, have offices in London in which the club’s executives often work from.

“In sport, Tom has vast experience in the football industry where he has become a trusted advisor and representative for household name players, managers and pundits,” Brandsmiths website details.

“His work for these clients includes negotiating high value transfers, contracts and endorsement agreements.”

Manchester United have become known in recent seasons for how slow they are at bringing in players, with the club’s obvious funds often being a stumbling block as they end up paying huge asking fees for players.

One example of this is when the club signed Harry Maguire from Leicester City in 2019. After chasing the player for the entire summer, Manchester United eventually coughed up a hefty £80 million fee for the player.

Keane is the brother of two ex-Manchester United players Michael and Will, who both came through the academy to make their debuts for the club before ultimately moving on to pastures new.

Michael Keane joined Burnley and eventually secured a move to Everton, while Will now plays his trade as a striker for Wigan Athletic.

This is not the only change United are looking to make within their transfer strategy department.

It is reported that the club are showing interest in Liverpool’s sporting director Michael Edwards, although Chelsea are also sniffing around the man who has been instrumental in the club’s recent transfer successes.

The signings of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane and Alisson and accession of said players’ abilities at the club under Jurgen Klopp has helped further prove Edwards’ record in terms of signing players who are clearly a good fit for the club, rather than just a big name within the game.

However, reports elsewhere have suggested that this move is an unlikely one for the former Liverpool man.

With the club losing five players so far this window with Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani all leaving for free and set to lose another on loan soon in the form of Dean Henderson to Nottingham Forest, the club need major reinforcements in the coming window.

United are set to face their first pre-season opponent in Liverpool on the 12 July in Bangkok before jetting off to Australia to do battle with Aston Villa, Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace.

Ten Hag’s men will then face two Spanish sides in two days back in Europe, starting with Cristiano Ronaldo’s familiar foes in Atletico Madrid in Olso on 30 July and then Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford, the weekend before the club open their Premier League campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion.