He needs time… Ronald Koeman has no doubts over Davy Klaassen, but begs fans for patience

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Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen has endured a slow start to life at Goodison Park.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman has told The Telegraph that fans need to give Davy Klaassen time to adjust to life in the Premier League after a slow start to the season.

The Toffees splashed the cash over the summer, as Koeman was given the funds to bring in the likes of Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Nikola Vlasic, Wayne Rooney and Sandro Ramirez.

Another player to arrive was midfielder Davy Klaassen, who came with a strong reputation from his time in the Netherlands having starred with Ajax, having hit 55 goals in 181 games from midfield.

The 24-year-old, who found the net 20 times last season, was the driving force in Ajax’s run to the Europa League final last term, and Koeman snapped him up to boost his midfield options.

In what has been a slow start for the entire Everton squad as they adjust to so many new signings, Klaassen has struggled to really get going, receiving criticism for being too slow on the ball and not imposing himself on games quite enough.

Fans want to see Klaassen offer more to the Everton midfield, but with so many players who want to play centrally – including Rooney, Sigurdsson, Idrissa Gueye, Morgan Schneiderlin and Tom Davies – Klaassen is getting somewhat lost in the shuffle.

Now, manager Koeman has told The Telegraph that Klaassen needs to improve his fitness and physicality, pleading with fans to give him time to make the step up from the Eredivisie to the Premier League.

Koeman also wants Sandro Ramirez to make the same adjustment, but he has no doubts at all that Klaassen will eventually prove his worth at Goodison Park, such is his quality.

“He needs time. He is okay,” said Koeman. “He is intelligent on the ball. I think he can improve in fitness and he can improve physically in battles in the midfield. That is what he needs to learn and improve, but that is normal. The Dutch league is not the Premier League and the boy gets time for that. It is all about the player himself.”

“It is the same question for other young players and players like Sandro Ramirez. (They have) to keep quiet and keep patience. He (Klaassen) will come because I don’t have any doubts as to the quality of the player,” he added.