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Ronald Koeman insists nobody at Everton had “doubts” about signing Davy Klaassen - but admits the Premier League may now be too much for him.

The Blues spent £23.6m on the Ajax captain last summer but he has struggled to adapt to the English game.

Klaassen has made just 14 appearances this season and only one since Koeman’s final game in charge in October.

Koeman, now the Holland boss, says he has been “disappointed” by Klaassen but insists nobody can deny his work-rate and dedicated.

But the former Blues boss fears the rigours of the Premier League may be too much for him to handle.

“I called him a few weeks ago and spoke out of curiosity,” Koeman is quoted as saying by Football Oranje via an interview with Ziggo Sport.

“He was in the picture again at Everton, but now again not.

“I do not know why.

(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)

“He had a difficult start at Everton, that was disappointing.

“But you can not say that he does not train hard and works hard.”

Koeman added: “He had trouble with the aggressiveness and the tempo.

“You do not get time on the midfield.

“I was disappointed with Davy.

“What did not help him was that we did not have a striker. Romelu Lukaku left and the arrival of Olivier Giroud did not go through at the last moment.

“I really expected him to adapt more easily. That’s why I had also met him.

“Nobody in the club had doubts about him. “Not in the Netherlands either.

“Klaassen was someone we spent a lot of money for and who could have really played a role in the midfield.

“In retrospect, you may have to doubt whether the step was not too big.”