Nick Ware

Thu 30 September 2021 6:30, UK

Everton may have tried and failed in their pursuit of Donny van de Beek in the summer transfer window, but a January signing could be on the cards after Wednesday night.

Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, speaking on the ‘Here We Go’ podcast [07/09/21], claimed a deal for the 24-year-old was agreed by the Dutchman and Everton, but Manchester United pulled the plug on the move.

“From what I’m told van de Beek he was not so happy because he wasn’t playing,” Romano said.

“Everton were really, really close, [Rafa] Benitez wanted him, the whole board wanted him so it was more than an idea, it was a done deal really between Everton and van de Beek but Manchester United said no.”

The Ajax academy graduate remained at Old Trafford beyond the end of the transfer window and he made his first appearance of the 2021/22 campaign in the 4-1 win over Newcastle United on September 11.

He then started their next two cup fixtures, against Young Boys [Champions League] and West Ham [League Cup], but the Red Devils lost both and he was taken off at half-time in Switzerland.

Van de Beek has been rooted to the bench since the West Ham defeat, and it was a failure to appear as a second-half substitute against Villarreal on Wednesday that seemed to irk the 2020 signing.

With the home side chasing a much-needed winner against the Spanish outfit, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer elected to bring on the more defensive-minded Fred rather than van de Beek.

As can be seen in the video below, posted by Royal Blue Mersey on Twitter, van de Beek is seen frowning and being comforted by his teammates, before angrily throwing his chewing gum to the ground.

With Manchester United out of the League Cup and feeling the strain in Europe, it’s hard to see how he will accrue many more minutes in the team.

If he’s not being trusted ahead of Fred when they need a goal, at home, then when will he be given the nod?

Van de Beek will be in close contact with his potential future employers on Saturday as Everton make the trip to Old Trafford, but it’s unlikely he will get the chance to showcase his talents.

Everton have enjoyed a good start to the season, with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan impressing in midfield, but there is a lack of quality behind them, and making a move for van de Beek would make a lot of sense, and he could push harder for a January exit.

In other Everton news, Simon Jordan has claimed the Blues are ‘another Derby’ and will need Farhad Moshiri to bail them out.

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