Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has highlighted the importance of Marcel Brands signing a new deal with the club.
The Dutchman is inside the last year of his current contract after making the move to Merseyside from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2018.
Since then, he has worked with Marco Silva and Ancelotti to sign a number of quality players and help build a squad the Italian can work with to achieve his ambitions.
However, that work has reportedly attracted glances from elsewhere.
Some rumours have suggested that Manchester United have highlighted the Everton director of football as a potential target as they look to introduce a similar role at Old Trafford.
But, when asked about these reports, Ancelotti explained how important it should be to keep Brands at the club.
Ancelotti told his pre-Leeds press conference: "I have a good relationship with him, but apart from this a friendship.
"I think he is doing a fantastic job, he's been at this club more than me.
"I found the club really well organised. I found a really important scouting department.
"So I think it will be important for him to continue and to find a deal with the club."
