Solskjaer: Everton didn’t table official bid for Van de Beek
Everton were linked with Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek in the summer transfer window, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has finally reacted.
The Red Devils manager has insisted the Toffees never submitted an official bid for the Netherlands international, 24, and is hoping he can keep working hard to break into his first-team plans.
The Athletic reported last week that Toffees boss Rafa Benitez was considerably less keen on bringing Van de Beek to Goodison Park after director of football Marcel Brands was alerted to his potential availability through a Dutch intermediary.
Brands has not ruled out another move for his countryman in the January transfer window [Sky Sports], but Solskjaer, Manchester United’s Champions League hero in 1999, wants him to remains at Old Trafford.
“We have never received an offer from Everton, but there is always speculation,” the Norwegian manager told RTL 7 after his side’s Champions League clash with Atalanta on Wednesday night.
“To me, he is a Manchester United player. He just keeps working hard every day. Everyone is warming up. You have to be ready to be brought in.
“Donny has the quality, when he plays, that he knows how to open doors. He’s so smart, but I think Bruno (Fernandes) is okay too. It is difficult for him at the moment, I understand him. He is frustrated, disappointed, but he continues to work every day with a big smile on his face.
“I know he’s not happy, but he works hard and is a top pro. He knows that sometimes in football, you don’t play, but he won’t give up.”
Tough
With Benitez apparently not a huge fan of the midfielder, it makes a lot of sense to know that the club did not bother about submitting an official bid.
The Spaniard clearly did not approve despite whatever plans Brands had concerning a potential deal, and it is hard to see a move being revisited in the winter.
Van de Beek has continued to struggle at the Theatre of Dreams, playing just five minutes of Premier League football so far this term after starting four times last season.
He is likely to seek an exit in January or next summer if his fortunes do not improve, but a move to Everton does not appear to be on the cards.
The Toffees do need to add some creativity to their midfield after James Rodriguez left, though, and while Van de Beek could help do that, he has not been able to convince Benitez that he can fit into his system despite his brilliance while at Ajax.
In other Everton news, Benitez has admitted he finds it hard to understand Toffees man sometimes.
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