Donny van de Beek has opened up on the influence of Frank Lampard in convincing him to move to Everton on loan in January.
The midfielder completed his switch from Manchester United until the end of the 2021/22 campaign with a few hours left of transfer deadline day.
The Dutch international will link up straight away with new Blues boss Frank Lampard, whose appointment was confirmed a few hours previously.
And he opened up on the positive conversation he's already had with his new manager and what he expects to bring to Everton in the coming months.
Van de Beek told evertontv: “Now I can say I am an Everton player, I am really happy and can’t wait to help the team.
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“I think it is a great club…there are really good players here and I came because I want to help them go up the table.
“I hope to bring my football qualities, my passing, and, of course, scoring goals. It is a big part of my game to score and give assists and I will try to do that again. And it is not only offensive, you have to defend as a midfielder and can do that as well.
“I had a really positive meeting with the new coach. 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."
Van de Beek hasn't managed to get many opportunities at Manchester United since completing his move from Ajax.
However, that has left the midfielder with a point to prove after moving to Merseyside on loan, and he is desperate to help the Blues work themselves back up the Premier League table.
“I want to show my qualities, my strengths, to the people in England – but especially the fans from Everton," said Van de Beek.
"The most important thing is we win games and go up the table.
"We have good players in the team and the talent and ability to go up in the league.
"But, for that, we need to work hard and I want to be part of this.
“Everton is a big club, with big players, the history and amazing fans. The Club has everything to go up and be higher in the table.
“I played at Goodison twice last season without fans… t will be lovely to see the stadium full.
“It’s difficult I cannot play on Saturday but I will be there to see the game and focus on the next match.
“I’m fit. I train a lot for myself and I was training a lot with the team at United.
"I have a few days to train fully and I’m sure I’ll be there [ready for Newcastle].”
