Tonny Bruins Slot, Ronald Koeman’s former assistant, claims a work permit prevented Davinson Sanchez from joining Everton.
Ajax chief scout Tonny Bruins Slot has been quoted by Mundo Deportivo as saying that Everton have been interested in signing Colombian centre back Davinson Sanchez.
Sanchez, 20, came up through the ranks and starred with Atletico Nacional in his native Colombia, but was snapped up by Ajax along with compatriot Mateo Casierra over the summer.
After just one game in the Jong Ajax team, Sanchez was promoted to the senior side, and has impressed with the Eredivisie giants, making 11 appearances and scoring two goals.
Davinson Sanchez in action for Colombia Under-20’s
Sanchez, a powerful and pacey defender, has been tipped for a huge future, and he has recently been linked with a move to Barcelona, as Marca reported over the summer that he rejected the Catalan giants as he didn’t want to start in their B team.
Barca appear to still be keeping an eye on Sanchez, but Ajax’s chief scout Tonny Bruins Slot has revealed that he may have been an Everton player over the summer.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman
Bruins Slot worked with Everton manager Ronald Koeman at Barcelona, Ajax, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia and AZ Alkmaar as the two share a great relationship, often working as Koeman’s assistant, and the 69-year-old has now revealed Koeman’s interest in Sanchez.
As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Bruins Slot admitted Koeman told him that he is ‘excited’ about Sanchez, and would have been an Everton player over the summer if he was eligible for a work permit.
Ajax’s Davinson Sanchez
Bruins Slot suggested that Barcelona are lucky that Everton didn’t sign him, and it will now be interesting to see whether Koeman makes a future move to try and bring Sanchez to Goodison Park, with Everton potentially needing to develop a young defender behind Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka.
“Barca are lucky because, otherwise, Davinson Sanchez would already playing at Everton on the orders of Ronald Koeman, who is excited about the player, as he told me personally on several occasions,” said Bruins. “He has not yet made the sufficient games to meet the requirements for a club in the Premier League. If not for that, the club would have already lost him,” he added.
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