Sam Allardyce has reiterated his stance on Everton's transfer plans by insisting that reducing the number of players in his squad is the top priority this summer.
The Toffees boss offloaded Ross Barkley and Aaron Lennon during his first transfer window in charge, as well as getting four more players off the books on a temporary basis.
Quality over quantity is now the order of the day for Allardyce, who looks likely to remain at the Goodison Park helm for the start of next season, with fringe players needing to be moved on.
"I certainly think that the development of younger players is blocked when you have a first team squad as big as it is," he told reporters ahead of Everton's weekend trip to Huddersfield Town.
"I still think that, when you look at a squad as big as ours, managing the numbers is a difficult task. I think reducing the squad is what we need to do and when we sign a player I think we need to sign one for the first team, not for the squad.
"We need a player or two and he needs to be a top player to go straight in the team and make us better. Whether we get to that level in such difficult circumstances this summer due to the World Cup is one which we'll try hard to do."
Swansea City midfielder Ki Sung-yeung is reportedly on Allardyce's list of summer transfer targets.
Daniel Lewis
