Ronald Koeman has revealed his delight at being given the chance to take on "a great project" at Everton.

The Dutch manager signed a three-year contract at Goodison Park earlier this week after leaving fellow Premier League club Southampton, where he had spent the last two years.

Koeman, who has said that he is "very excited" to begin work at Goodison Park, has also eased fears that the club's "best players" will be sold in this summer's transfer window.

"I am very pleased to be part of a great project. I am very excited to be here. It is important to show ambition to win. Everybody at Everton is ready to take the next step," Koeman told Everton's official TV station.

"Everybody is hungry - the people at the club and the fans - to put Everton back to where we were. We want to keep our best players. I will have meetings with the players and we will see what happens.

"We need to first see what we have here and in the academy. After we know, we will see what we need to bring. It is nice to hear the fans wanted me. It makes the first days that bit more comfortable. It is like a family here."

Koeman, who replaced Roberto Martinez after the Spaniard was sacked, also revealed that he would be keeping club legends David Unsworth and Duncan Ferguson on the coaching staff.