Everton’s new manager must be willing to work with the club’s young players.
Marco Silva remains the forerunner to succeed Sam Allardyce in the Goodison Park hot seat after being identified as the preferred candidate late last year.
Talks with the Portuguese coach are understood to be progressing well with the Blues expected to announce his appointment within the next week.
And new sporting director Marcel Brands, who is overseeing the process, has outlined the task which lies ahead for Allardyce’s eventual successor.
He said: “The priority in the first month is the first team and to be ready for the start of the next Premier League season.
“The [overall plan] has to be long-term, though. That’s also the goal I was given in the conversations I had with the club.
“What the people around the club will see is new signings but behind-the-scenes there will be a lot of work and, of course, the first thing is a new manager.
“I think it is important that he wants to work in the new philosophy, the new strategy of how we want to work with a Director of Football.
“I think it is important that he creates the environment for the long-term, and I think it is important that he is a modern coach.
“If you think about what Everton’s plans are, I think a modern coach will fit into that profile.
“Then his philosophy and how he wants to play is important. I think it has to be a coach who wants to work with young players.”