Everton manager Frank Lampard ‘personally phoned’ Donny van de Beek to convince the Manchester United man to join them on deadline day.
Van de Beek completed a loan to Everton at the end of the January transfer window, having sought out regular game time away from Old Trafford.
Everton have long been chasing his signature, having tried to sign him on loan in the summer as well, but had to battle for his signature this time around.
That’s because Crystal Palace were keen on his signature, too, with Van de Beek’s father in law, Dennis Bergkamp, reportedly speaking to former teammate Patrick Vieira about the midfielder.
Ultimately Everton won the race, though, and Voetbal Primeur report that is down to Lampard’s influence.
His efforts clearly worked, with Van de Beek now officially at Everton and looking to make an impact between now and the end of the season.
Voetbal Primeur argue it’s more than possible he will, stating that the midfielder ‘seems to fall into Lampard’s trap’ and he has ‘much more’ chances of playing than he did at United, where there is fierce competition from Bruno Fernandes.
They also try to allay fears of him being Davy Klaassen 2.0, arguing that the circumstances are different and that comparing them ‘doesn’t hold water’.
Their belief is that Lampard, who helped Mason Mount develop ‘spectacularly’ at Chelsea, could do the same here, and the ‘ingredients are there’ for success. It is, though, up to Van de Beek to mix them properly.
