New Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell has named the two characteristics he looks for when signing a player and revealed work is already underway for this summer’s transfer window.
Thelwell, who was named as the club’s new football chief last Friday, made the move to Merseyside from New York Red Bulls, where he had been in place since February 2020.
The 48-year-old was previously sporting director at Wolves, where he had also previously worked as a head of football development and recruitment.
Everton's new director of football comes into the role replacing Marcel Brands, who left the club last year having been on Merseyside for just over three years.
Brands joined the club just before the arrival of Marco Silva back in 2018, replacing the sacked Steve Walsh.
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It is believed that just under £500m has been spent on new faces by Walsh and Brands, with some struggling more than others to have an impact at Goodison Park.
Many Everton supporters believe that a squad overhaul is needed in the summer after years of struggling in the Premier League.
The Blues are currently embroiled in a relegation dogfight, and while Thelwell acknowledges that getting results is the club’s current main priority, he has also admitted that work is underway in the background for this summer’s transfer window.
“Yeah, without question. I think everyone understands that recruitment is such an integral part of this role as well as the manager’s role,” he told evertontv.
“But the real focus right at this moment is about supporting Frank and supporting the coaching team to help them get results. Then to work away diligently in the background on what the plan looks like for the summer.”
While Thelwell, in his first interview since he joined the club, has also gone into detail about what characteristics he will be looking for when signing a player.
“It is important to get somebody who fits Everton Football Club. And I think we all understand what that means,” he said.
“I’m sure if I asked any fan in the building they would be able to say to me the three, four, five characteristics that are important to be an Everton player.
“So number one is of course about getting the right player with the right skills, but it is about getting the right person. Somebody who will fit into what Frank wants to achieve, then also what the club wants to achieve.
“So working very, very hard on those two components are going to be absolutely vital for us going forwards.”
Before Thelwell continued: “As I said before, identity is very, very important and it is something that you have to value. I think the clearer people are in their role the better the outcome you are going to get on the pitch.
“And so us being clear about who we are and how we are going to play is very important and a lot of them things are obviously part of Frank’s job.
“But then it is also important to recognise that as well as that identity piece you have got to make sure you get the right fit for people. Everyone can identify the right players, it is also about making sure that you can identify the right people as well.
“Working on those two elements in particular in getting exactly the right fit for Everton Football Club is going to be fundamental for us moving forwards.”
