Donny van de Beek completes six month loan deal to Everton after Manchester United nightmare

Donny van de Beek has completed his loan move to Everton, thereby bringing his nightmare spell at Manchester United to a temporary end. 

The Dutch midfielder struggled for game time at Old Trafford following his £40million transfer from Ajax last season – with the 24-year-old playing just 50 times in two years under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, then Ralf Rangnick.

But Van de Beek has now sealed a move to Goodison Park as the first Toffees signing announced after Frank Lampard’s arrival on Merseyside as manager. 

Van de Beek (right) has joined the Toffees after struggling for minutes at Old Trafford

Van de Beek, who will wear the No 30 shirt for Everton this season, told the club’s official website: ‘I had a really positive meeting with the new coach (Lampard). We have the same ideas about football and he had a lot of influence on my decision.

‘I played against him when I was at Ajax, and he was at Chelsea [as manager], so he knows me as a player. He thinks I have qualities that can help the team.

‘I can learn a lot from him because he was a little bit in the same position – a midfield player who scored a lot of goals. He can help me a lot, so I think I’m in a good spot.

‘I want to improve with Everton. There are always things that can be better and I work hard every day to do that.’

The Dutch international midfielder will wear the No 30 shirt between now and the end of June

LaLiga outfit Valencia were also interested in a move for the former Ajax star before he chose a move to Merseyside. The 20-time English champions are set to receive a £500,000 loan fee, with Everton covering all of Van de Beek’s £100,000-per-week wages.

But United have made it clear the loan is no gateway to a permanent Old Trafford exit, having rejected the Blues’ proposal of an option-to-buy clause. 

Instead, the Red Devils hope a few months away from Manchester can help revitalise the player they spent £40m on in the summer of 2020. 

A deal between player and club could have been sorted six months ago, when a furious Van de Beek sacked his agent following the breakdown of a short-term Everton move in the summer.

Van de Beek is set to work with Frank Lampard (above) who moved to Everton on Monday

The Dutchman has made just eight Premier League appearances – and 14 across all competitions – this season, scoring once, and will therefore hope to reignite his career at Goodison Park.

Everton hope that Van de Beek is not the only midfield arrival on Monday night after the Toffees agreed a deal in principle to sign Tottenham’s Dele Alli.

Alli was set to join initially on a free transfer, with Everton having to pay £10million once he gets through a 20-game threshold. 

However, while the Toffees are in the final stages of securing a permanent deal for Alli, Newcastle have reportedly made a late dash for the England international and want to take the forward on loan. 

Everton also want to complete a deal for Tottenham’s Dele Alli (left) but so do Newcastle

That news was reported just before 7pm on Monday night – after the mega-rich Magpies missed out on a move for United’s Jesse Lingard.

Sportsmail revealed that United blocked Lingard’s attempts to leave Old Trafford on loan five hours before the transfer window closes – despite interim boss Ralf Rangnick giving it his blessing. 

The Red Devils have been in talks with Newcastle over a deal until the end of the season, while West Ham were also bidding to take Lingard on loan again. 

Newcastle made an offer of £3million up front with a further £4m if they avoid relegation, but it’s understood that United chairman Joel Glazer pulled the plug on a deal with the Premier League strugglers and their Saudi owners.