Transfer Centre

Rafael van der Vaart warns Steven Berghuis against Everton move

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 26 March 2020

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rafael van der Vaart warns Feyenoord's Steven Berghuis against joining Everton and risking being replaced by a "clumsy Englishman".

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has warned compatriot Steven Berghuis to stay at Feyenoord rather than move to the Premier League.

Berghuis has been in fine form for Feyenoord this season, sitting joint-top of the Eredivisie scoring charts with 15 in addition to registering seven assists in the Dutch top flight.

The 28-year-old's form has seen him linked with a move to the Premier League but, using Everton as an example, Van der Vaart claimed that he would risk being dropped for a "clumsy Englishman" if he was to go through a short spell of bad form at Goodison Park.

"I think he should stay with Feyenoord. He is the man there, the team is built around him," Van der Vaart is quoted as saying by The Mirror.

"Do you have to go to Everton when you are almost 29 or something? If you don't play well there twice, they will set up a clumsy Englishman and you will be out of the picture, also with Oranje (national team)."

Berghuis has scored 22 goals and created 11 more across all competitions this season, helping Feyenoord into the final of the KNVB Beker and up to third in the Eredivisie.