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Everton's sporting director Marcel Brands has revealed that he would love to bring PSV Eindhoven youngster Mohammed Ihattaren to Goodison Park.

The 17-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best young talents in European football and could be about to spark a scramble for his services.

What has Brands said?

Brands told Voetbal International:

“Frankly, I’d like to have him at Everton tomorrow. He’s so good, but I don’t think that’s the path he should take. He will need an intermediate step later.

"In that respect, Mo is good at PSV. The club plays European football, he has a great chance of playing time and he is in the national teams.

“If he now went abroad, he has a lot less guarantees. The step to the Premier League is really big and it can also go wrong with a talent.”

It is clear that Brands is a huge fan of Ihattaren, but Everton's sporting director feels that the teenager should remain at PSV for now.

The fact that Brands has dropped the attacker's name, however, is a strong indication that the Toffees are keeping a close eye on his development.

Barcelona have also been credited with an interest in the Netherlands Under-19 international, who has made three first-team appearances for PSV this term.

How good could he become?

It is always difficult to predict just how good players can become, particularly in this case as Ihattaren only turned 17 earlier this week.

The fact that he is getting minutes for a PSV team chasing the Dutch title, however, suggests that he is a pretty special talent.

A seven-time Under-19 Netherlands international, Ihattaren is capable of playing in attacking midfield, as a right winger and also in central midfield, according to Transfermarkt.

The teenager's debut in the Eredivisie came against FC Groningen last month and he has since appeared against both Fortuna Sittard and FC Utrecht in the league.

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The fact that Ihattaren has a contract with PSV until the summer of 2021 does stand the club in good stead, but it seems likely that he will eventually move on.

Brands has confirmed that Everton are watching, but the Merseyside giants will seemingly have to fight off a host of Europe's biggest clubs if they wish to seal his signature in the future.