Brands lauds Dutch starlet Gravenberch, admits it’s tough for Everton to sign him
Marcel Brands has heaped praise on Dutch sensation Ryan Gravenberch but has cast doubt on whether Everton can compete with the elite clubs in the transfer market.
Gravenberch, 18, is currently tearing up the Eredivisie for Ajax with his all-action displays in the middle of midfield and has also impressed in his six Champions League appearances this campaign.
The Dutch U-21 international has been tracked for a number of years now but his performances as a first-team regular on the biggest stages have increased the attention placed on him.
Everton director of football Brands waxed lyrical to ESPN about his compatriot but believes he is out of touch as a transfer target for the Blues, saying: “I think one player really stands out: Ryan Gravenberch at Ajax. I think he has so many qualities and has such a physical that he fits in any competition. In my opinion, this is a player of the outside category.”
He added: “I am afraid that he will immediately make a choice for the absolute top. Like Frenkie de Jong, for example, or Memphis Depay from PSV to Manchester United at the time.”
The Eredivisie has not always been a happy hunting ground for Everton after the failure of big-money signing Davy Klaassen in 2017 but Gravenberch looks to be ready made for the rigours of the Premier League and possesses the physical traits to back that up so news that Brands has ruled out a move is sure to disappoint Blues fans.
Aim high
Brands might be dismissive of the notion that a player of Gravenberch’s ilk would join Everton but with a world-class manager in Carlo Ancelotti at the helm and an array of exciting young talent themselves including Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, perhaps the Blues should be reaching for the stars.
Everton currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League and with the topsy-turvy nature of the campaign so far no one could rule out them achieving a European spot and even a Champions League place.
If they do secure European football next season suddenly Goodison Park will be an even more attractive destination for the most prodigious talent across the globe.
Gravenberch is a central midfielder and while Everton strengthened enormously in this area in the summer, signing first-team mainstays Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, they are 30-years-old and 28-years-old respectively and the Blues need to be planning for the future.
Tom Davies is yet to truly convince while Andre Gomes’ powers seem to be on the decline so there is certainly a space for another combative and technical midfielder.
Even if players like Gravenberch seem out of reach there is certainly an argument to be made that the platform Everton would offer is an attractive proposition with game time a more realistic opportunity than at, say, Barcelona.
Perhaps Brands should be mindful of this and show some more ambition in his comments.
In other Everton news, club chasing wantaway former Red.