Bill Kenwright has claimed that new Everton manager Ronald Koeman is targeting a place in the Premier League’s top four.
Koeman is set to begin his debut campaign as Blues boss since succeeding Roberto Martinez last week and will be afforded a £100 million transfer war chest this summer by Farhad Moshiri in efforts to revive Goodison Park’s fortunes.
And Everton chairman Kenwright insists that the Dutchman has already set the bar high in his aspirations for Champions League qualification, which match the ambitions of new majority shareholder Moshiri.
He said: “Farhad has a vision for this football club. It involves the Champions League and a new stadium.
“I don’t think for one second Ronald has joined us and is not thinking of Champions League. But he’s pragmatic.
“Has he said ‘I will get you in the Champions League’? No. Has he said he thinks this club should be in the top four? Yes. Definitely.
“Ronald has a list of potential targets. We support managers. He knows that. We will try and give him what he wants.”
Talks over appointing a new director of football also remain ongoing but are unlikely to included the previously two leading candidates, Sevilla chief Monchi and Ajax counterpart Marc Overmars, both out of the running.
“It’s something I wasn’t used to so I didn’t really know a lot about it because there seemed to be a lot of cross-fertilisation with my role,” added Kenwright.
“But it is modern football and if you get the right one it is a big plus. We are talking to various Directors of Football and Ronald has worked with a lot of them. He will embrace that, as well as the Everton way.
“So I would have thought yes, we are leaning towards appointing a Director of Football but Ronald has to be part of that process. Various first-rate people have been mentioned.
“What I have picked up in the last four weeks is it is an important role and if done right it can add to a football club.”