Steve Bruce has revealed what former Everton boss Ronald Koeman told him about defender Jetro Willems, prior to the player’s loan move from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer.
Willems has impressed since his switch and has managed to cement a regular position in our starting line-up occupying the left-wing back role, with the defender even being nominated for Budweiser’s goal of the month award in September for his stunning strike against Liverpool.
Here is what Bruce had to say about his conversations with Koeman, who is now in charge of the Dutch national team:
“I remember ringing Ronald Koeman, the Dutch manager, and asking about Jetro.
“He said…’Steve, if you can get a hold of him you take him. He’s got a lovely left foot, he’s been playing in Germany and, from being a young one, it hasn’t quite happened the way we all wanted. But, there are no doubts about his ability’. And of course, week by week now, he’s getting better, physically.
“We can all see, technically, when he scores the goal at Liverpool with your wrong foot, you know technically, you’re a good player.
“He’s adapting, he found it difficult to start with and the intensity of it and the way it is.
“He’s enjoying it and I still think physically, there’s still more to come from him – and I challenge him on that every week.
“If he gets to the physical side, comfortably, then we’ve got a very, very good player on our hands.”
Willems strike against the Reds was my personal highlight of the season so far – I was in the away end at Anfield that day – and, on current form, the £10million it would cost to make his move permanent seems a snip in the transfer market’s current climate.
Let’s hope he can continue to impress and complete a permanent move to the club next summer.
