Everton twin transfer weapon named as ex-striker lifts lid on David Moyes talks

Everton twin transfer weapon named as ex-striker lifts lid on David Moyes talks

Louis Saha believes there is greater potential for Everton than Tottenham Hotspur in moving into their new stadium as he explains why he believes his former Blues boss David Moyes can also attract better players to the club

Everton boss David Moyes is going to be busy in the transfer market this summer (Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images )

Louis Saha believes both the return of David Moyes as manager and move to the new stadium will enable Everton to attract a better calibre of player in the transfer market this summer. The Parisian has also pinpointed the type of recruit he reckons the Blues need.

Saha netted 35 goals in 115 games for Everton between 2008-12, including one after just 25 seconds in the 2009 FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley, having been signed by Moyes from Manchester United.

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When asked what it’s like to play under Moyes and how players respond to his methods, Saha, who was speaking exclusively to the ECHO via BetSelect, said: “It's unbelievable. When I left United, I was searching for a club that had a similar mentality.

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“It’s because of him that I signed for Everton. I met him maybe a few days before, after he invited me into his home.

“I then realised that this guy was very much like Alex Ferguson in many ways. He wanted to bring out the best in everybody.

“I knew that I had to adapt because he had this hard-working culture. Every player, whether you’re a striker or a goalkeeper, has to press. You had to be rigorous about what you wanted to do and what you wanted to achieve.

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“I enjoyed the eye he had for winning and challenging the opposition, working really hard on every aspect of the game. He didn’t have a Cristiano Ronaldo or a Paul Scholes, so we had to really compensate, and had a lot of games where you had to fight.

“He was brilliant at that. He gave everyone the courage to take action, and his players were dedicated and had a strong mindset, like (Mikel) Arteta.

“We had a great combination. The guys responded well to Moyes, and that’s why I can see the magic again now that he’s back at Everton.”

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The Blues have already turned Carlos Alcaraz’s loan move into a permanent switch and are trying to seal a deal for Kenny Tete, whose contract is due to expire at Fulham, but in what promises to be a busy window, Saha believes the draw of having Moyes back at the helm is a big pull.

He said: “I think David Moyes will attract new players. In the last 10 to 15 games, he has changed the mentality of those players and changed the connection that the fans had with their players.

“A lot of things have moved forward drastically since Moyes came back in. There is a new stadium, there are a lot of positive things about Everton at the moment.

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“Moyes has tremendous experience, and wherever he goes, he brings the best out of players. What he's done at West Ham is brilliant. This gives new players a lot of confidence.”

Indeed, the former striker, now 46, reckons the move from Goodison Park to the new 52,888-capacity Hill Dickinson Stadium on the Mersey waterfront can be another big attraction for potential signings.

Saha, reckons there is more potential than Tottenham Hotspur, who he left the Blues to join, and said: “The new stadium shows a desire to grow as a club and shows that they want to reach Europe.

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“They want to have far better things and not sit at the bottom of the table. That will resonate with young players who have ambition.

“There are so many good things about Everton. The club is very stable.

“I really love the city and the derbies you can play. It's enormous.

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“If you love football, you watch those games. Seeing those fans move into a bigger stadium with a better fan experience is great.

“Tottenham moved to a new stadium and won the Europa League. The potential for Everton is even greater because they have more history.”

When it comes to who Moyes should be looking at to reshape his squad, Saha believes the Blues need to try and find more creativity.

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He said: “We have some strong players in midfield, Idrissa Gueye was amazing last season. If Everton finds their striker and gets another creative midfielder, they can do really well.

“The team definitely some talent up front, they need directness. A playmaker who can really pick the pass, who can really put the strikers or wingers in one-on-one situations.”

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