Everton Captain Phil Neville has called called on the Everton board to provide the funds needed to bring in ’special players’ in a ‘very important summer’ on which to build on this seasons success in order to break into the top four next season.

Neville: “It is a very important summer for the club. We have to press on and in footballing terms it would be a major disaster if we didn’t push on and keep progressing as a club.

“We have to bring in the right players, better players than we have already, and there’s not too many out there now. We need the players who will get us into the top four.”

“In the big games, especially against the top four, maybe we have missed that special player a little bit, and that’s what we need to find this summer.

“We’ve had two good seasons on the run now and we’re showing improvement every year. Sixth, then fifth – the next step is fourth and I think that there is miles more to come from this team.

“This is a position the gaffer should enjoy, going out and being able to attract players with European football and the consistency of a side which will be in the top five or six, and now pushing for fourth.

“Now we have to be competing for players with the clubs above us. To catch them we have to be looking at the same players they are. If not, fifth will be the maximum we can expect.”