Donny van de Beek is set to become the first signing of the Frank Lampard era at Everton The Manchester United midfielder will arrive on loan after choosing Everton over Crystal Palace. During the interview with Lampard, the name of Van de Beek was mentioned and the former Chelsea boss was keen to have the 24 year old in the team.
Everton joined the race to acquire the services of Van de Beek and pretty quickly reached an agreement with Manchester United. The Toffees were ready to pay a loan fee and cover 100% of the wages. The Dutchman had to make a decision and he has chosen Everton. As per Fabrizio Romano, Lampard’s call was key to complete the midfielder’s move to Everton.
At Manchester United, the 24 year old had become a fringe player who hardly got opportunities to showcase his talent. His career had hit stagnancy as his progress was only restricted to training sessions and sporadic game time. This season too, Van de Beek has played just 14 games out of which he has started just four.
At Everton, Van de Beek can expect an increase in involvement as he could potentially play in a number of formations.
Here are three ways new Everton signing Donny van de Beek can play under Frank Lampard:
Donny van de Beek mostly operated as a No.10 at Ajax
1. As a No.10 in 4-2-3-1
Perhaps, this is the role that will suit Donny van de Beek the most. Everton have enough tools in their armoury to lineup in this formation. Lampard used 4-2-3-1 as one of his preferred formations at Chelsea, deploying Mason Mount as a No.10.
He could replicate a similar system with Van de Beek at Everton. The Dutchman played as a No.10 at Ajax and looked in his element in this position. The Dutchman is a technical master, possibly possessing the best technical skills in the team.
Everton at times have lacked the creative ability on the pitch and having Van de Beek will certainly address that problem. The 24 year old is a free goalscoring midfielder and through his tidy passing, he can create opportunities for others around him as well.
Van de Beek hardly got any chances to play as a No.10 at Manchester United given Bruno Fernandes made it his own monopoly. With the 24 year old arriving at Everton, he could satiate the absence of a No.10 at the club. Lampard did wonders with Mount at Chelsea, which gives real hope to the fans that Van de Beek will manage to revive his career under the 43 year old.
With Van de Beek operating as No.10, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will head the attack. Richarlison and Demarai Gray could play on the flanks. Lastly, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure could form the midfield pivot once the Frenchman returns from injury.
Donny van de Beek can operate as an 8 in the Everton setup
2. As a free floating 8 in 4-3-3
If Bruno Fernandes can do it under Ralf Rangnick at United, Van de Beek can pretty sure do it too at Everton. There is misconception that the Dutchman can only operate as a No.10. However, the myths can be quashed as Van de Beek seems equally comfortable and effective while playing as an 8.
Playing as a free floating 8 will allow Van de Beek the positional freedom to surge forward while not being bound to remain a distributor or provide the support to the defensive midfielder. If the former Ajax man is told to play as a distributor, he can do so but that will lead to an eventual compromise on Van de Beek’s greatest virtue, creating and scoring goals by providing attacking threat near the opposition box.
4-3-3 is another formation that Lampard heavily used during his time at Chelsea. In fact, 4-3-3 was his most used formation as it gave Lampard’s side much needed midfield presence during the transitions. Everton have been struggling for man presence during transitions which is why the midfield is often being overrun and dominated by the opposition.
Rarely do we see the midfield duo of Allan and Doucoure winning the midfield battle collectively against smart opposition. Playing a midfield three solves the problem. Playing Van de Beek in that role adds vigour and goal-scoring threat to a certain degree.
Donny van de Beek could operate alongside Allan in the Everton midfield for the time being
3. As a central midfielder in a 4-4-2
This could probably be the least favoured position and formation for Lampard. But for the time being, Lampard may deploy the Everton team in this shape. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Fabian Delph have suffered groin and hamstring injuries respectively.
With Tom Davies also on the sidelines, Lampard may choose to deploy Van de Beek as a central midfielder. He and Allan can operate together from the middle of the park. Doucoure has been a key component in the engine room and until he returns, the Toffees will have to work with a makeshift solution.
A midfield three of Andre Gomes, Allan and Van de Beek might work but then either Gomes or Van de Beek will have to compromise on their attacking and creational qualities and play the role of a distributor.
Playing with Allan in the middle of the park also sounds like an option. With Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin up front, Gray and Andros Townsend out wide, Allan and Van de Beek can play at the base. Probably not as a pivot, with the Dutchman enjoying a bit more freedom than Allan.
This is likely just a temporary solution until Doucoure returns. Once the Frenchman returns a midfield three with Allan at the base sounds like a viable solution.
Will Donny van de Beek revive his career at Everton?