Friday 7 April 2017 08:23, UK
After unearthing Leicester's title-winning stars, the pressure is on Steve Walsh to deliver more transfer success at Everton...
Ronald Koeman is optimistic about the path his Everton team are on. Best of the rest behind the Premier League big guns, the Goodison Park club have threatened to break into the upper echelons this season.
With wealthy major shareholder Farhad Moshiri primed to fund a summer of spending, there's a feeling in the north west that Everton can be challenging for Champions League qualification in 2017/18.
"After the summer it will really be my team, and a team the fans will like. We will be ready then to take the next step," said Koeman in January, seven months after taking up the Everton reins.
However, it won't be Koeman marshalling the upcoming transfer business which will strengthen and reshape the Dutchman's side. That responsibility falls on Steve Walsh, director of football.
A key figure in Leicester's shock Premier League title win last season, the Foxes' former head of recruitment made a summer switch of his own in 2016, with Everton hiring the man who made the previously underrated Jamie Vardy, N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez household names.
After his high-profile move, Walsh's immediate impact has been limited, in terms of standout transfers in the summer 2016 and winter 2017 windows.
Yes, Everton spent £30m on Yannick Bolasie, Idrissa Gueye's Kante-like performances in the middle of the park have impressed and January arrival Ademola Lookman sparked excitement with his fast start but there was frustration after the club missed out on pre-season targets Moussa Sissoko, Axel Witsel, Lucas Perez, Lamine Kone and Manolo Gabbiadini.
Behind the scenes, though, Walsh has been laying the foundation for future success.
He has made significant changes to Everton's scouting set-up, with Leicester's European talent-spotter Dave Worthington following him to Merseyside, while top Manchester City analyst Laurence Stewart and former Sunderland head of recruitment Martyn Glover have also been brought in.
There has been a focus on revamping Everton's youth recruitment team, too.
"Proper recruitment takes time," Walsh said in a Sunday Times interview earlier this season. But while much of his work so far has been about setting up long-term systems for uncovering potential signings, there is an expectation that Walsh's presence will be felt keenly during the upcoming summer transfer window.
"This summer is his transfer window," said Sky Sports News reporter Vinny O'Connor. "He arrived too late to have a big impact last summer but after a settling in period, in which he's been able to find his feet and understand what the manager Ronald Koeman wants and needs, his influence will take effect.
"His track record suggests he works two transfer windows in advance, and after making the transition to a bigger club, he has the opportunity to make his mark in the coming months."
Of course, that work will be carried out in tandem with Koeman. Walsh has spoken in the past about recruitment being a collaboration between manager and scouting staff and the Everton boss has made his list of demands clear to the board.
After making the transition to a bigger club, he has the opportunity to make his mark in the coming months.
Koeman, though has been keen to point out the technical side of bringing in players is not his responsibility but Walsh's. He raised eyebrows after the January FA Cup defeat by Leicester, when he said: "If everyone opens their eyes today, maybe we will get further on our improvement as a team. I have that in mind and the board knows because we spoke together about what we and the team needs. That is the job of Steve Walsh."
Over to you, Steve. As Koeman prepares his current squad for another clash with Walsh's former team, the director of football is gearing up for his busiest time of the year, knowing Everton's transfer business will be key to their chances of elevating themselves to the next level.
The pressure and expectation will be on one of their most important recent recruits to deliver.
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