As Erik ten Hag's Manchester United reign has officially begun, the Dutchman will be keeping a close eye on players he can depend upon and those he should look to offload in the summer transfer window.
One player he could look to bring back into the first-team fold is a player that he knows better than the United supporters despite the fact this midfielder has been at the club for nearly two years. Donny van de Beek joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2020, leaving an Ajax side bossed by Ten Hag in the process.
The move has been nothing short of a disaster, with the Netherlands international barely used by both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick despite being purchased for a fee of around £40million from the Eredivisie giants. Just a month into Rangnick's interim reign, the German sanctioned the loan exit of Van de Beek to Everton.
The 25-year-old has been part of a Toffees side battling relegation ever since he arrived during the January transfer window. Guided by Frank Lampard, Everton managed to survive but in truth, Van de Beek's contribution has not been as positive as he'd have hoped.
Seven appearances have brought a return of just one goal, which came in the form of a consolation on the final day of the season during a 5-2 drubbing away at Arsenal by which time Everton were already mathematically safe.
With that being said, though performances on the pitch have not been at the required standard for United or Everton - Van de Beek's work rate is exemplary. Mix his willingness to work harder than those around him in with the fact there is certainly a gifted player in there and he could yet revive his flatlining career.
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Van de Beek's conduct was singled out for praise by United legend Rio Ferdinand just before he swapped Manchester for the blue half of Merseyside.
"There are types of players in these situations, a player like a Donny van de Beek, who is conducting himself very well from what I hear from people on the inside, who just isn't getting game time," Ferdinand told his FIVE YouTube channel. "You're happy for those guys to go and find time to play."
Van de Beek has been handed a dream scenario with Ten Hag's appointment, as the 52-year-old oversaw the best form of the midfielder's career during their shared time together in Amsterdam. If any manager can get a tune out of the central midfielder, it is Ten Hag.
United's new manager has already explained how maximum effort is at the top of the agenda as he bids to restore the Red Devils back to their former glories. "It’s a process, it will take time but I’m convinced we will come to that point where we get success," Ten Hag added. "We have to work hard and it has to be based on the right philosophy and strategy."
