Everton join Tottenham and Liverpool in hunt for Netherlands winger

Everton have been linked with a move for exciting young Brugge winger Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld.

The Daily Mail claims the Toffees are among a number of Premier League sides who have been tracking the winger, who only moved to Belgium from NEC Nijimegen last summer.

Italian side AC Milan have already had a £9million bid rejected for Groeneveld, who has been sidelined since October with an ankle injury.

Prior to that the 21-year-old had made a flying start to life in Belgium, scoring five goals in 13 appearances in all competitions, including a memorable strike against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

His performances for the Belgian champions led to a call-up to the Netherlands squad - under former Everton boss Ronald Koeman of course - and a first international cap against Germany in October.

Three days later he scored his first Netherlands goal in a 1-1 friendly draw against Belgium in Brussels.

He has been deployed as a wing-back at times for Brugge but is more natural as a left winger, though can be played through the middle and on the right.

That versatility may be what has attracted Everton as the current squad doesn’t really have any pressing need for left-sided players right now.

Lucas Digne has the full-back slot sewn up whilst Bernard, Richarlison and Ademola Lookman can all play on the left.

That makes this link curious, though the presence of Marcel Brands will likely see Everton consistently linked with a host of young Dutch players.

Groeneveld also began his career at PSV where Brands was director of football, though he would leave without making a senior appearance.

Given his injury we are unlikely to see much progress on the transfer front this month. But as Brands continues his search for young players with potential, do not be surprised if Groeneveld’s name crops up again in the summer.