The European Commission heavyweight dubbed “the Monster of Brussels” by British officials has said he thinks Boris Johnson can thrash out a trade deal with the EU by the end of the year — as long as the government is properly organised.

Martin Selmayr offered a surprisingly nuanced assessment of the prospects of Britain making progress when The Sunday Times caught up with him recently — despite the insistence of the new European Commission president last week that the timetable is too tight.

The prime minister met Ursula von der Leyen in Downing Street on Wednesday, when she voiced the view that Johnson would need to seek an extension to the transition period with Brussels that is due to expire on December 31.

However, Selmayr,