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Steve Walsh says Everton are building team for the top four

Steve Walsh director of football at Everton during the pre-season friendly match between Barnsley and Everton at Oakwell Stad
Image: Steve Walsh has already signed Morgan Schneiderlin for Everton

Everton director of football Steve Walsh says is happy with the progress of his recruitment department as they try to build a team worthy of the Premier League's top four.

Walsh, who was appointed after leaving his role as head of recruitment at champions Leicester last summer, helped scout and sign Morgan Schneiderlin, Yannick Bolasie and Ademola Lookman this season.

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Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News HQ in a day behind the scenes at Goodison Park, Walsh highlighted the increasingly important role recruitment takes at all football clubs.

He said: "You're always planning and looking at good players, trying to make your team better. The question we ask is; does that player fit into what we're trying to do?

"If he does then we try to take it forward. I try to find out as much as I can about the player and the person; his whole personality, because we want to be there, be successful, and get into the top four.

"You can only do that with time. But we are certainly better than the team that started from the summer, and I think the fact we have bought people like Schneiderlin shows we have got better and will get better."

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"First thing I did was I sat down with Ronald and looked at how he wanted to play. There's no point me bringing in players that don't fit with how he plays. We talked about systems and structures, and built on that.

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"The most important thing is the recruitment of players for the first team, but I'm also conscious of the fact we have a good academy and good young players coming through. Doing that is the hallmark of a successful club. We will build on what we've got and take the club forward."

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