PSV’s Marcel Brands to join Everton, putting Steve Walsh’s future in doubt

PSV technical director Marcel Brands is set to join Everton later this month, once the Dutch side have secured the Eredivisie title.

Sky Sports News is reporting that PSV will discuss Brands’ departure at a board meeting later today, with a replacement already lined up.

PSV are currently seven points clear at the top of the table with five games left and could secure the title as early as April 15 against Ajax, paving the way for Brands to move to Goodison Park.

Brands is represented by influential agent Mino Raiola and Toffees majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri believes that combination could drastically improve Everton’s recruitment after a number of underwhelming signings this season.

Brands, who was first linked with Everton back in January, has earned an impressive reputation for finding and recruiting young talent.

In his five years at PSV, the 55-year-old has made the club more than £200m by recruiting and later selling the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum, Memphis Depay and Kevin Strootman.

Prior to that Brands spent five years at AZ Alkmaar where he recruited Louis van Gaal as manager, who led the side to the Eredivisie title in 2009.

Chelsea have also been linked with Brands as they seek a replacement for Michael Emenalo, who left for Monaco last summer.

Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images

The move for Brands immediately puts the future of current director of football Steve Walsh in doubt. Walsh joined from then-champions Leicester in 2016 with a reputation of unearthing diamonds in the transfer market.

However, despite a record breaking summer of spending last year, Everton have struggled this season with a number of big-money signings failing to make an impact. There were reports earlier in the season that Walsh could still stay at the club but revert to the position of chief scout, the role he filled at Leicester.

In an interesting development since the publishing of this article, it appears connected media to PSV are claiming that there is no board meeting scheduled for today, and that there has been no official approach for Brands either by the Blues.

Like we’ve learned where Mino Raiola is involved, even when it’s 99.9999% done, it’s not really done until the ink has dried on the paper.