Tim Howard has called on Bill Kenwright to spend big this summer, if Everton want to attempt the top four.

Nobody wants to be the one to say it but I will - the way football is at the moment you need money,” he said.

“We have had a generous chairman who has given us money. Andy Johnson broke the record, Yakubu broke the record and we have to keep doing that if we are to stay up with the teams that are spending that money.

“It’s a sad truth that nobody wants to say but if you look around the world, the teams who are at the top aren’t the poor ones. We have a good team and a good squad so if we keep building on that we will have quality.

“If we have more depth we will be all right - we can challenge. We finished fifth this year so fourth is the next logical step.”