Marten de Roon has admitted he’d like to play for Everton with a back-handed compliment to Ronald Koeman.
According to a report in The Sun the Middlesbrough midfielder has claimed that he isn’t good enough for a top five club but could play for a club like Everton.
De Roon will get the chance to impress Koeman on Saturday when Everton visit the Riverside Stadium with the Merseysiders running into a bit of form.
“I won’t get to play for Manchester City, or another club among the top five in England,” de Roon said. “But I do think that I can develop myself to the level needed to play for a club like Everton.
“But there is a long way for me to go. I first need to become the best player at Middlesbrough – that is the next step for me.”
Aitor Karanka paid Atalanta £12m in the summer to bright the Dutchman to ‘Boro.
De Roon has been a regular in the ‘Boro side but it remains to be seen what impact, if any, his comments have on his team-mates and ‘Boro supporters.
Karanka’s side haven’t won a Premier League match since December 17 and are now just two points above bottom placed Sunderland.
With most of the teams at the bottom of the table showing signs of fighting to avoid the drop De Roon and M’Boro could find themselves at the foot of the table if they lose on Saturday to Everton.