Everton chief Marcel Brands admits they tried hard to sign Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek last summer.

A deal appeared closed until United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stepped in to block the loan move.

"We had him on our list," Brands told Langs de Lijn. "At the beginning of the transfer window, we inquired at United, then it was impossible. At the end of the window, I received a call from Guido Albers, his agent, that he might be let out after all. But at the last minute it was cancelled. It stopped again."

Brands cannot say whether Everton will make another attempt in the winter transfer window.

"You always depend on whether a club wants to cooperate. And it is early October, so much can still happen with injuries. United are playing on various fronts, it's hard to say now."

On Van de Beek's lack of minutes this season, Brands continued: "It is of course a pity for Donny. He is a very good player, no doubt about it. Such a boy wants to play and wants to return to the Dutch national team.

"But you know that at such a club the pressure is great and the competition is enormous. If you see what United had on the bench (against Everton): Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, Paul Pogba..."