Everton Super Fans urge club to opt against signing Van de Beek
This is part of a regular series from our panel of Everton Super Fans. Each week, Super Fans from our Goodison News Facebook page will deliver their verdicts on the biggest talking points and news stories around Goodison Park.
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According to The Athletic, Rafa Benitez was considerably less keen on bringing Donny van de Beek to Everton in the summer after he became available.
Toffees director of football Marcel Brands was alerted to the potential availability of the Manchester United midfielder through a Dutch intermediary, but the Red Devils changed their mind in the closing stages of the transfer window.
Brands has not ruled out another move for the Netherlands international, 24, in the January window [Sky Sports], but it remains to be seen whether Benitez will approve.
We asked our esteemed panel of Everton Super Fans over on Facebook if they approve of a potential move for Van de Beek in January, and here is how they reacted.
Benitez and Brands have to work together if Everton want to become a force to reckon with and become European regulars, but it appears both have different ideas as regards which players fit perfectly into the Goodison Park project.
The Athletic reports that internally, it was difficult to agree on targets.
Denzel Dumfries was a favoured option of the recruitment team in the Toffees’ search for Seamus Coleman’s successor, but he was not unanimously popular and Benitez wanted someone who could add balance in attack and defence.
At the end of the day, most of the major business came through the Everton manager, with Andros Townsend, Salmon Rondon and Demarai Gray joining Everton because of him.
Benitez clearly wants a large say on transfers, but recruitment is one part of Brands’ remit, and both parties have to find a way to work together if things are to work out.
Van de Beek is likely to be available again in January, and it will be interesting to see which decision the club makes.
In other Everton news, Benitez has admitted he finds it hard to understand Toffees man sometimes.
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