Howard: we must spend big

Everton need to spend much more in the summer if they are to stand a chance of qualifying for the Champions League, insists goalkeeper Tim Howard.

The toffees came close to the coveted fourth position, but fell away at the crucial last period of the season.

All season long manager David Moyes was quick to downplay any suggestions of finishing fourth, but influential goal stopper Tim Howard, who they paid £3m for, insists that they must spend more if they are to keep up.

He said: “Nobody wants to say it but I will - the way football is at the moment you need money.

“We have had a generous chairman who has given us money but we have to keep on to stay up with the teams that spend big."

Moyes made a record transfer signing of £11.25m to bring in top scorer Yakubu, but Howard believes that such signings must be built on if they are to challenge the with the big four.

“If you look around the world the teams who are at the top aren't the poor ones. If we have more depth we will be all right - we can challenge.”