Blues will have to adjust in the transfer market to bolster squad

DAVID MOYES accepts Everton may need to adjust in the final days of the transfer window to ensure he has a squad capable of pushing the club forward.

- By JOE THOMAS

The Blues have started the season short of players in key areas, a reality that bit at Leeds United when combined with the defensive injuries suffered in the buildup to the first game of the season.

With just over a week left to do business, Moyes remains intent on bringing in players he genuinely likes but acknowledged that, should problems in attracting primary targets continue, Everton cannot afford to simply not sign anyone at all.

Blues chiefs insist the plan is still to bring in at least three new faces and that the club has the finances to pursue ambitious signings.

But a feature of the manager's summer interviews has been his surprise and disappointment at the struggle to convince top targets to join his rebuild.

He repeated that position ahead of tomorrow's game against Brighton, the first competitive fixture at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

He said: "I see Everton as a huge club and a great attraction.

"We finished incredibly strongly last season but my take on it is that we are probably going for players who are already playing for teams in the Champions League, or they want to go to teams who are in the Champions League or Europa League.

"A lot of the players we want are at that level and don't want to drop away from that."