Everton boss Frank Lampard has praised Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek as he has settled in well at Goodison Park.
The Dutchman joined Man Utd in 2020 from Ajax for a fee that could rise to £40m with add-ons.
This move has not gone to plan so far as he has barely featured for United since the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
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Van de Beek was given permission to join Everton on loan during the January transfer window.
The midfielder has hit the ground running for the Toffees as Lampard has won two of his first three games in charge.
Speaking on Thursday, Lampard lauded Van de Beek for overcoming a “tough” period:
“I’ve been really impressed. On a professional level, since speaking to him, him coming and seeing him train, I am absolutely impressed with his fitness and his game sharpness. When you’re watching training it doesn’t surprise you,” Lampard said (via The Daily Mail).
“When I think back to the time he has had at Manchester United, he’s a top level player. He was when Manchester United signed him and he was at Ajax.
“It’s not easy. There are different ways of reacting and I’m sure it was tough. He has shown that if you keep your head down and keep working you can come through it.
“People will always respect you for it. Now hopefully he has a chance to show his quality on a regular basis and I hope do to.”
Rio Ferdinand has disclosed what he’s heard from people at Everton about Van de Beek.
The Man Utd legend has revealed that sources at Everton have told him that Van de Beek has “lifted the levels” in training.
“I’ve been speaking to a few people at the club and they’ve said that he’s gone in there and lifted the levels, training-wise,” Ferdinand told Vibe with FIVE.
“[He’s a] great lad, first and foremost, but you can see. A lot of them are going, ‘Wow, he’s this good, they must be unbelievable at Manchester United if he can’t get in’.”
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