Roberto Martinez believes Gerard Deulofeu can prosper in English football – and revealed the Spanish wonderkid could stay at Everton beyond this season.
Deulofeu made an instant impact on the right flank during his debut for Martinez’s men on Wednesday when scoring in the 2-1 Capital One Cup second round win over League One side Stevenage.
The 19-year-old is on a season-long loan from Barcelona, who envisage the youngster as a future first-team regular.
But despite obvious differences with the Spanish game, Martinez is convinced “old-fashioned winger” Deulofeu can improve in the Premier League.
“Because he’s been developing in that Barcelona style it means he’s a player who’s used to having 80% of possession and that he can stay in a wide position and he will always get the ball,” said Martinez, whose side travel to promoted Cardiff City this afternoon.
“That means he has to adapt and understand that the British game doesn’t work like that because it’s more transitional and a bit more open.
“He’s adapting to it really well. But he could really galvanise in the British style because he is an old-fashioned winger who is incredible in one-on-one situations and he is a finisher but he needs to get used to it and change some habits.
“They do such a good job at developing young players at Barcelona that the concepts are ingrained in them and that’s why we have to be a little bit patient.
“But the manner that he showed a way to be effective against Notts County shows that he is a character who is ready to find a way to be effective for the team.”
Deulofeu will spend the season at Everton, although any loan fee will be waved should the youngster appear in more than 50% of the club’s games.
And Martinez revealed there was scope for an extension of Deulofeu’s stay should it prove beneficial to all concerned parties.
“We can take him for a longer period,” said the Spaniard. “I don’t think it is an option to take him permanently because the hopes in Barcelona are huge for him but with him being such a young man perhaps we could extend it for a further year.
“The deal is performance based so depending on how many games he plays financially there is a difference. It decreases if he plays more.”
Marouane Fellaini, who scored the winner in midweek, and Leighton Baines both travelled to South Wales yesterday despite continued interest from Manchester United.
United had an improved £36million offer for the pair rejected earlier this week that valued Fellaini at his now-expired buy-out clause of £23.5m and Baines at £12.5m
Goodison officials are braced for one final approach from the Old Trafford outfit ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline, with sources in Manchester suggesting United are prepared to go to £40m for the duo.