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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Adam Jones

Donny van de Beek is already asking an irresistible Everton transfer question

It's very likely that, early in Everton's match against Southampton on Saturday, you'll hear the tune of Mr Saxobeat by Alexandra Stan bellowing from the away end.

Unless you've been living under a social media rock over the past week, you'll know exactly why.

Donny van de Beek has captured the attention of Blues fans so much during his time at the club that he has already garnered himself a creative new song.

"You make me dance, bring me up, bring me down, play it sweet, make me move like a freak - Donny van de Beek."

It's catchy. You'll have it in your head for the rest of the day after it's belted out around St Mary's this weekend.

And it's all a reflection of the big impact the midfielder has managed to make in only around 120 minutes of Premier League action following his loan from Manchester United.

Despite a poor team performance against Newcastle, he was impressive from the bench and showed the real signs of what was to come.

Against Leeds, it's no surprise that he won the club's man-of-the-match vote. He was tenacious, intelligent, positionally aware, confident in possession and hugely energetic.

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It's early days, of course, but these are great signs for the months to come.

What is already becoming a real question, however, is what comes after that? Where does the future of the Dutch international lie beyond May 2022?

Some will say that it's too soon to even be contemplating this notion, and you can certainly see the argument for that being the case.

Everton are still embroiled in a relegation fight. One swallow doesn't make a summer, and one strong result doesn't mean that everything is rosy at Goodison Park once again.

For everyone right now, the main focus should be turning things around consistently on the pitch to drag the side away from the bottom rungs of the table.

But, as is always the case with a Premier League side, there does have to be some thought ahead to the future.

Frank Lampard put a lot of faith in Van de Beek even before full confirmation of his appointment as Everton's new manager was revealed on transfer deadline day.

If that wasn't already a huge confidence boost for a player who has struggled to win over his current side in Manchester United, then the almost instant reaction to his Goodison debut would have been.

It took just 15 minutes for the Dutchman's name to be loudly chanted from the Gwladys Street for what would be the first of many occasions thanks to his impressive display.

There were initial questions over how the loan signing would fit into the Blues side especially with Dele Alli joining he club just a few hours later, with many questioning if the pair would step on each other's toes.

Lampard said on Thursday, however: "Donny can definitely do both roles and I just felt that, for the make-up of the team, as I came in I saw Donny as being a player who can really link from back to front.

"That means he possibly has to start a bit deeper. I think as we hopefully evolve and some other players get fitter, there may be different opportunities to tweak things and get him higher up the pitch because he's certainly comfortable when he's a goal threat.

"He has a real instinct to arrive in the box, he always has."

That's an exciting prospect for the future.

With the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Fabian Delph returning to full fitness soon to provide new bodies and qualities to the midfield, we could very well be treated to a different Van de Beek in the remaining months of the campaign.

But the one Everton have right now is fine enough to supporters as long as he keeps up the form he set during the match against Leeds United.

A fair number of fans though are holding themselves back a bit.

Not just because consistency has been a major issue with a lot of Blues players throughout the campaign so far, but also due to the fact that the 24-year-old is still a Manchester United player.

Everton have been hurt by loan players before. Let's not speak about Manuel Fernandes, for example...

Van de Beek was easily convinced by Lampard to ditch a prospective move to Crystal Palace late in the window and attempt to prove himself once more at Goodison instead.

It's rather unlikely the former Ballon d'Or nominee will be thinking too much about his long-term future yet, but he has already claimed his loan is "like a new start".

Whether he means that to be on Merseyside, back at Old Trafford or even with a separate club beyond the end of the current campaign is yet to be seen.

Because, realistically, who's to say Manchester United's new manager won't be impressed by his time at Goodison? Or, could he be tempted by a permanent switch to a separate club in the summer?

That's for a few months, though. Let's focus on the here and now.

Van de Beek has proven that he can provide the requisite qualities in the centre of the pitch that Everton have been missing for much of their limping campaign so far.

He's comfortable in picking up possession from his defenders, driving through the lines and setting his side on the attack.

Moreover against Leeds United he was accurate with his short passes, he was tough in the tackle and he managed to cover a lot of ground in the middle of the pitch.

Evertonians won't be all-in after one 90-minute display, but this is a great platform for the Dutchman to go on and prove himself.

He's already won over the hearts of many, and that will be proven when his new chant is belted out from the stands once more.

So maybe it's best to not think too far ahead into the future right now. For fans at least, it's about enjoying the match as much as possible, pushing their side towards victory and helping keep the confidence of each individual player high.

For the club's hierarchy things might be a little different, they might be minded to already be having a little glance ahead to an important summer transfer window.

Is Van de Beek the answer in Everton's midfield? It's far too soon to tell in the grand scheme of things.

But he's got a great chant...and it's still in your head isn't it?

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