Ronald Koeman has warned that Everton face up to two seasons before they will resemble a team in his image.
Koeman’s admission comes after the Blues were trumped by Arsenal in their efforts to land Deportivo La Coruna’s £17 million-rated striker Lucas Perez.
And despite investing over £45 million this summer, the Dutchman believes that the gulf currently between Goodison Park and its more illustrious peers will take time to bridge.
He said: “If you’re trying to get a player in and you get competition from the big clubs and they play Champions League, normally most of the time you lose.
“What we need to do at Everton is to do the big project. I think I need two seasons really to get what I think can be the best team for Everton.
“After this window, still I like to change things but it’s not possible. Maybe next year, then finally everyone can be happy but the team is [still] strong.
“To get that balance in your team, you need more than one pre-season and more than one transfer window.”