Everton signed Morgan Schneiderlin from Manchester United earlier in January.
Ronald Koeman has told the Daily Mirror that Morgan Schneiderlin made it clear to him that he wanted to join Everton to play every week, before putting pen to paper on a contract at Goodison Park.
Schneiderlin is Everton’s most expensive signing of the January transfer window so far.
The central midfielder was brought to Merseyside from Manchester United, after struggling to break into Jose Mourinho’s side.
And Koeman, who worked with Scheniderlin at Southampton earlier in their respective careers, claims that the French international’s desire to play was one of the main reasons he opted to bring the 27-year-old to the club.
“We signed Morgan Schneiderlin because he made it clear he wants to play every week,” Koeman said.
“My relationship with him also made the deal a bit easier.”
Despite Schneiderlin’s ambition to start, he has had to be patient at Everton so far.
The Toffees have been excellent in recent weeks, and their form has meant that Schneiderlin has been unable to break into Koeman’s starting line-up.
Both of Schneiderlin’s appearances for the Toffees so far have come off the substitutes’ bench.
Everton are next in action on Wednesday evening, when they take on Stoke City.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
