Donny van de Beek set for loan move to Everton until end of season

He must really be desperate to play.

Donny van de Beek has chosen to join Everton on loan until the end of the season, as reported by The Athletic. Crystal Palace were also in talks with Manchester United about taking the midfielder on loan, but Everton appear to have won the race for his signature. It is reported that an agreement between United and Everton was reached on Saturday before Van De Beek made his decision on Sunday morning. Everton will pay 100 per cent of his wages during the short-term loan, and have discussed the possibility of signing the player with prospective managerial targets following the sacking of Rafa Benitez. Duncan Ferguson is currently in charge in his second spell as caretaker manager at Goodison, with Frank Lampard now the outright favourite to take the job on a permanent basis. Lampard has not been in a managerial job since he was sacked by Chelsea a year ago, despite links to Norwich City and Newcastle United, who hired Dean Smith and Eddie Howe respectively. Depending on which is announced first, Van De Beek could become Lampard's first signing for Everton, who are short of central midfielders right now, with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Fabian Delph both ruled out through injury. Everton desperately need a turnaround in form if they are to avoid being dragged into the relegation battle, having won just one league game since September - beating Arsenal 2-1 in December.