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United reject might be ideal for Everton

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Donny van de Beek of Manchester United stretches for the ball under pressure from Seamus Coleman of Everton during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on December 23, 2020 in Liverpool, England. A limited number of fans (2000) are welcomed back to stadiums to watch elite football across England. This was following easing of restrictions on spectators in tiers one and two areas only (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Donny van de Beek of Manchester United stretches for the ball under pressure from Seamus Coleman of Everton during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on December 23, 2020 in Liverpool, England. A limited number of fans (2000) are welcomed back to stadiums to watch elite football across England. This was following easing of restrictions on spectators in tiers one and two areas only (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Reports in the media claim that Netherlands midfielder Donny Van de Beek is unhappy at Manchester United and wants to leave. Could he be what Everton need to improve their midfield?

Despite the summer additions of Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, there are still times when the Everton midfield lacks enough drive and attacking contribution with a lack of creativity and goal threat from the middle.

This was again evident in the Burnley defeat when the Toffees midfield was too easily outplayed and overrun. Allan was not at his sharpest having just come back from injury, Tom Davies was playing out of his best position in place of Doucoure who was of course missing and is out probably for the rest of the season.

The Blues have been linked recently with a move for Juventus star Adrien Rabiot but another midfielder might be the sort of option to consider: United’s Dutchman van de Beek.

The 23-year-old only moved to Old Trafford last summer but he hasn’t settled there and has had limited opportunities to show what he can offer in the Premier League.

Van de Beek was an outstanding player in the Dutch Eriedivisie with Ajax and as a result got a high profile move to England six months ago.

But it’s not worked out for him so far and now reports have emerged that he might not be willing to sit it out and wait his turn at United and would consider leaving for pastures new.

Obviously this story appearing doesn’t mean van de Beek is certainly seeking a move away, but if he is unhappy he’s the sort of player Everton could do with.

The Dutch international offers versatility, energy, attacking skills and goals from midfield. He can play defensively in the middle or from a wider attacking position, especially on the left and provides a real goal threat. This is something the Blues have lacked for a long time from the centre of the park.

On paper Andre Gomes was going to offer that but he has flattered to deceive for a long time now and his form has not recovered since he returned from the serious injury he suffered in November 2019 against Spurs.

Van de Beek’s qualities make him a little different from a player like Rabiot who is a more defensive type although he also has the quality to contribute offensively.

But as we’ve said many times before if Jean-Philippe Gbamin ever returns to health and fitness then with him, Allan, Tom Davies and Abdoulaye Doucoure, I think the Toffees will have enough defensive cover in the middle. What they ideally need is yes more energy, but also attacking creativity and goals.

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So if Gbamin is able to recover his best form or Rabiot is available in something like a straight swap for Moise Kean, it would probably make sense for Everton to also look at a more attacking option.

The team has lacked goals from the midfield for a long time and in fact it’s not since the days of Tim Cahill that Everton have really had that threat from that area of the pitch. Adding another ten or fifteen more goals a season from this position would take some of the pressure off the forwards.

Looking at midfield options, one other player who is similar in age and who offers the sort of energy and athleticism that the Toffees need more of, is Ibrahim Sangare.

The Ivorian is currently playing his trade in the Dutch league where van de Beek was previously playing before his move to Old Trafford.

Sangare is a more defensive type of player so wouldn’t offer the attacking contribution and goals that van de Beek can offer but he might be another version of Doucoure, which isn’t too bad! These are the sort of footballers in midfield the Blues need to looking be at.

To be honest I don’t think van de Beek is going to leave United this summer and if he does he’s going to want European football. So if Everton were interested in a player like him and United were prepared to sell to the Toffees, (probably unlikely), the Blues would have to offer him that as a minimum.

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