Michael Keane could be in line for a shock return to former club Manchester United in the January transfer window.
The Burnley defender, who is a product of United's youth academy, is reportedly on the radar of the Red Devils as they look to strengthen their defensive options under manager Jose Mourinho.
Keane, who was sold by former United boss Louis van Gaal, has enjoyed a stellar start to the 2016/17 campaign at Turf Moor and, according to the Manchester Evening News, could now be set to head back to Old Trafford when the window opens on January 1.
Mourinho has had to contend with tweaking his backline throughout the season due to injuries to current centre-half options Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind, while Chris Smalling's future at United is up in the air after the Portuguese boss accused the England international of not being willing to play through the pain barrier during Sunday's victory over Swansea City.
Keane is now odds-on with bookmakers to head back down the M66 to rejoin the club that only sold him for £2m in January 2015, and would become the second former United youth star to rejoin his former club after Paul Pogba completed a world record £89m move back to Manchester in the summer.
Premier League rivals Chelsea had tentatively been linked with a move for the 23-year-old but, with talk of other options potentially being available to manager Antonio Conte in the New Year, United are now the front-runners to acquire Keane's signature. Premier League champions Leicester City are also rumoured to be in the hunt for Keane, however.
Michael Keane: No player has blocked more shots in the Premier League this season than Keane (21) pic.twitter.com/oNGO3JJsRr
The ex-United starlet has gone from strength to strength under Burnley boss Sean Dyche in the past 18 months after he joined them permanently following a fruitfulsix-month spell on loan at the Clarets between September 2014 and January 2015.
Such has been the consistent nature of Keane's performances, interim England manager Gareth Southgate handed him a first call-up to the senior England squad ahead of the October international break, and Keane has retained his place in the 23-man party for the upcoming matches against Scotland and Spain.
After breaking into the first-team set up at United, Keane was also sent out on loan to Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers and Derby County before his eventual temporary - and permanent - move to Burnley.
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