Everton boss David Moyes has apologised to the club's fans and players, after a frustrating summer in the transfer market. The Toffees missed out on players such as Aaron Ramsey, Tiago, Joao Moutinho and Vagner Love.

Moyes said: “I am loyal to our supporters and people at the club but more than anything I am loyal to the players.

“We have built up a really happy relationship and strong spirit and I desperately want them to succeed.

“If they are going to do that, I have to help them by bringing in new players who will strengthen the side and give us a better chance of closing the gap on those above us and being in Europe every season.

“That hasn’t happened this summer and I feel I have let them down.

“At the end of last season, I wouldn’t have thought it was possible we would be sitting here in August without a single new face.

“It hasn’t been for the want of trying and I have to say the chairman, Bill Kenwright, has been fantastic.

“No-one has worked harder to get players in, but it just hasn’t happened yet. There are all sorts of reasons and some of it must remain private.

“But there aren’t many clubs looking to sell players at the moment, and certainly some people who have been brokering deals for us have let us down quite badly.”