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Everton are set to appoint Marcel Brands as the club's new director of football, PSV Eindhoven have confirmed.

The ECHO revealed in April that Steve Walsh's position with the Blues was believed to be under threat as they have made initial contact with PSV's sporting director.

It's believed that Walsh will be replaced as director of football by the incoming Brands.

The breaking news also follows this morning's confirmation that Sam Allardyce has left his position as Everton manager, with Brands being expected to work closely with whoever is chosen by the board next.

But, many Blues may not be familiar with Marcel Brands - who has garnered a fantastic reputation for his work so far in Dutch football, not least for his brilliant eye in the transfer market.

We've collected all the information you need to know about the man Everton have contacted:

Playing career

Brands' playing career was a little understated in truth.

His 17-year span as a footballer was all spent in the Netherlands, playing for multiple clubs in the first division and the Eredivisie.

The midfielder spent three spells with RKC Waalwijk which made up the majority of his career - but did spend two seasons playing for Feyenoord in the Dutch top division.

However, it was after he retired that Brands really made a name for himself.

Time with AZ Alkmaar

After retiring from football Brands became technical director at RKC Waalwijk, appointing Martin Jol as manager and guiding the club to much improved results.

That attracted the interest of AZ Alkmaar who secured the Dutchman's services in 2005 and, along with Louis van Gaal as the club's manager, went on to achieve great things.

(Image: MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/GettyImages)

Having finished second and third in the league in 2006 and 2007 respectively, the club finally won the Eredivisie in the 2008/09 season after being predicted by some pundits to finish as low as 13th.

In Brands' time at the club, they signed and developed players such as Graziano Pelle, Sergio Romero and Mousa Dembele - whilst also coming up against Everton in the UEFA Cup in 2007, with the Blues winning 3-2.

Move to PSV

Brands was tasked with improving both PSV's academy and transfer strategy when he was brought into the club in 2010 - and his work with them has firmly cemented his reputation across Europe.

His transfer record whilst with the club has been brilliant - including signing the likes of Gini Wijnaldum, Kevin Strootman, Dries Mertens and Davy Propper before developing them and selling on for huge profits.

But, that's not before they brought success to the club on the pitch.

Brands was initially under scrutiny near the beginning of his reign for spending without instant results - but soon PSV secured two Eredivisie titles and a KNVB Cup over the course of the eight years he has spent with the club.

That's not even to mention the significant improvement in PSV's academy across that period with Memphis Depay being the best example of that success, coming through the ranks to be a pivotal player for the club.

Those successes off the pitch have led to similar prowess on it - with PSV claiming three of the last four Eredivisie titles.

Not bad at all.

What has been said about Brands?

Dominic King, Daily Mail: "Marcel Brands has a towering reputation in Dutch football, an eye for talent and an ability to transform a club.

"During five years with AZ Alkmaar, from 2005 to 2010, he helped orchestrate a spell that saw the unfashionable club topple the giants of Amsterdam and Rotterdam and become champions of the Netherlands in 2009, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup.

(Image: EMKO DE WAAL/AFP/Getty Images)

"From Alkmaar, he went to PSV Eindhoven in 2010 again in the role of director of football. There have been two Dutch titles in the time since but, most importantly, an ability to uncover exciting talent and work the transfer market."

Former AZ Alkmaar and PSV star Adam Maher: "I have a very good relationship with Marcel Brands and really appreciate him. He gave me my first contract with AZ and took me to PSV. But he is also special as a person."

Has anyone else been linked?

Funnily enough, there was - and it was another Premier League club, too.

Back in December 2017, there were reports suggesting that Chelsea were interested in brining Brands to Stamford Bridge after the departure of Michael Emenalo.

De Telegraaf reported that Chelsea had made contact with the Dutchman and, whilst PSV clearly wouldn't want to lose him, that he would be tempted by a switch.

That move never materialised, but it certainly gave Everton the hope that they could tempt Brands away from the Eredivisie.