Everton’s interest in young PSV midfielder has been confirmed

Everton sporting director Marcel Brands has expressed his desire to sign PSV Eindhoven teenage sensation Mohammed Ihattaren. 

The Philips Stadion has been a hotbed for rising stars in recent years and Ihattaren is the latest talent emerging from the club’s esteemed academy.

Who is Mohammed Ihattaren? Five key things to know…

1. Ihattaren is an attack-minded central midfielder, able to operate in the heart of midfield or in the No.10 role.
2. At 17, the Utrecht-born midfielder already has seven caps for the Netherlands U19 squad, scoring twice.
3. He is of Moroccan descent but has so far represented the country of his birth at youth level, winning the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2018.
4. Ihatteren has been with PSV since 2010 and signed his first professional contract in March 2018.
5. Mark van Bommel gave him his first-team debut against FC Groningen last month and he has since featured in two more Eredivisie matches.

The talented tyro reportedly has a host of admirers across the continent with some of Europe’s biggest clubs linked with a move for the 17-year-old.

However, it is Everton who have blinked first, openly stating their interest in bringing the starlet to Merseyside, with Brands revealing he would have no qualms raiding his old stomping ground.

Speaking to Dutch football magazine, Voetbal International, the Toffees’ sporting director made no secret of his admiration for Ihattaren, but ultimately stated he should stay put for the time being and develop his game with PSV.

“Frankly, I’d like to have him with Everton tomorrow, he’s so good,” he said.

“But I do not think that’s the path he should take. He will need an intermediate step later. In that respect, Mo is good at PSV.

“The next step to the Premier League is really big and it can also go wrong with a talent.”

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Who is Marcel Brands?

After a disastrous recruitment policy under the guidance of both Steve Walsh and Ronald Koeman in 2017, Everton acted swiftly to appoint a more shrewd sporting director.

Farhad Moshiri identified Marcel Brands as the adequate successor to Walsh and in May 2018 the 56-year-old relocated from PSV to Goodison Park, joining Marco Silva in Liverpool.

Prior to his move to PSV in 2010, Brands was instrumental during Louis van Gaal’s highly successful tenure in charge of AZ Alkmaar, where the club won only their second-ever Eredivisie title during the 2008/09 season.

Since joining Everton last summer Brands has recruited a number of prodigiously-talented young players, including the likes of Richarlison, Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne, with the former and the latter so far proving huge successes with the Everton faithful.

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