Manchester United are the bookies favourites to make another major re-signing but this time in the shape of Burnley defender Michael Keane.

Keane has made an excellent start to the season under Sean Dyche and his impressive form at the heart of the Clarets defence has prompted England interim manager Gareth Southgate to hand him a call-up for upcoming fixtures against Scotland and Spain.

United boss Jose Mourinho has had to deal with a defensive crisis in recent weeks with Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia all currently sidelined and the 53-year-old is in dire need of reinforcements.

Mourinho is also reportedly considering offloading Smalling and Shaw following his furious public condemnation of the pair’s decision not to play in United 3-1 victory over Swansea on Sunday.

The England pair could join a United exodus in January with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind all linked with moves away from the club as Mourinho looks to remove any dead wood from his first team squad.

If Mourinho were to move for Keane then it would also be the second ex-United player that the club resign this season following their world record acquisition of Paul Pogba.

The 23-year-old defender left United in 2011 and enjoyed spells with Leicester, Derby and Blackburn before achieving promotion to Premier League with Burnley last season.

Marcus Rashford's Manchester United journey Show all 8 1 /8 Marcus Rashford's Manchester United journey Marcus Rashford's Manchester United journey 00-watford-bench-0.jpg WATFORD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 21: Manager Louis van Gaal and Assistant Manager Ryan Giggs of Manchester United watch from the dugout during the Barclays Premier League match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on November 21, 2015 in Watford, England. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) Man Utd via Getty Images Marcus Rashford's Manchester United journey 01-midtjylland-0.jpg TOPSHOT - Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32, second leg football match between Manchester United and and FC Midtjylland at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on February 25, 2016. / AFP / OLI SCARFF (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Marcus Rashford's Manchester United journey 02-arsenal-0.jpg MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United scores their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on February 28 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Tom Purslow/Man Utd via Getty Images) Man Utd via Getty Images Marcus Rashford's Manchester United journey 03-man-city-0.jpg MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 20, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Getty Images Marcus Rashford's Manchester United journey 04-fa-cup-west-ham-0.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United scores their first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Sixth Round replay match between West Ham United and Manchester United at Boleyn Ground on April 13, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tom Purslow/Man Utd via Getty Images) Man Utd via Getty Images Marcus Rashford's Manchester United journey 05-fa-cup-winner-0.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates with the FA Cup trophy after The Emirates FA Cup final match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium on May 21, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) Man Utd via Getty Images Marcus Rashford's Manchester United journey 06-england-debut-0.jpg England's striker Marcus Rashford (C) celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the International friendly football match between England and Australia at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, north east England, on May 27, 2016. / AFP / PAUL ELLIS / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Marcus Rashford's Manchester United journey 07-hull-winner-0.jpg Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring their late winning goal during the English Premier League football match between Hull City and Manchester United at the KCOM Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, north east England on August 27, 2016. Manchester united won the game 1-0. / AFP / Lindsey PARNABY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images

However, SkyBet have cut the odds on Keane returning to Old Trafford to 5-1 with Premier League rivals, Liverpool, at 10/1 to sign the towering centre back.