Van de Beek, who has struggled for playing time since joining Manchester United from Ajax last year, was linked with a move to Everton in the summer transfer window.
Everton were interested in taking the 24-year-old midfielder on loan towards the end of the transfer window, but saw a move blocked by Manchester United.
As Van de Beek continues to find playing time hard to come by at Old Trafford, Everton director of football Brands has not ruled out the possibility of the Toffees returning for him in the winter.
Brands, though, admitted that it is too early to say if Everton will sign the Netherlands international as a transfer will largely depend on Manchester United.
“You always depend on whether a club want to cooperate“, Brands told Dutch radio station NPO Radio 1.
“And it’s early October, so much can still happen with injuries.
“United are playing on several fronts, it’s hard to say right now.“
Brands sympathises with the former Ajax midfielder, but pointed out the competition Manchester United have within their squad, citing the strength of their bench against Everton at the weekend.
“Of course it’s a shame for Donny“, Brands said.
“He is a very good player, no doubt about it.
“Such a boy wants to play and wants to return to the Dutch national team.
“But you know that at a club like that the pressure is great and the competition is huge.
“[You can see the competition] if you see who else United had sitting on the bench: Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, Paul Pogba.“
Van de Beek has played just 141 minutes of football so far this season and it remains to be seen if Everton will make another attempt to sign him in January.
