Everton manager David Moyes will get the Friedkin Group's full support this summer as he prepares for his second full season in charge next term, according to a report.
Everton outline recruitment plans after impressive Moyes campaign
It has been one of the better seasons in Everton's recent history, but the Friedkin Group are not in the mood to stand still.
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Moyes' side sit tenth in the Premier League on 49 points with two games to play, and while a late push for Europe is more unlikely now, the progress under the Scot has been clear.
Now the owners want to build on it — starting with the sharp end of the pitch.
The striker question has been hovering over Goodison all season.
Beto has shown flashes but never found true consistency, with 10 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions.
Beto
Thierno Barry, signed from Villarreal last summer, has added energy and movement but has not been the regular goalscoring solution Moyes needed either, managing eight goals in 36 outings.
The feeling inside the club is that neither man is the answer as a guaranteed starter if Everton are to push further up the table next season.
Transfer planning has already begun in earnest.
Earlier this week, ex-Premier League scout Mick Brown tipped Man United's Joshua Zirkzee as a realistic target, describing the 24-year-old as someone whose work rate and all-round game would make him ideal for Moyes.
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The Toffees are 'serious' suitors.
We also reported on Everton's interest in Chelsea forward Liam Delap, who has struggled for regular starts since his move from Ipswich last summer and could be available at around the £30m mark.
Friedkin Group planning 'big-money' Everton striker deal
Now, Football Insider report that the Friedkin Group are prepared to go further than just bargain hunting.
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Sources have told the outlet that Everton's American owners are planning to fund a 'big-money' striker signing this summer, backing Moyes with genuine financial muscle as the club chases regular European football.
Fulham's Raul Jimenez has been linked in recent days.
The 35-year-old Mexico international is out of contract at the end of June and has enjoyed a solid season at Craven Cottage, scoring nine league goals in 34 appearances.
A free transfer for a proven Premier League goalscorer would seem like sensible business on the surface.
His age is the primary concern, though, and the Toffees could benefit from someone younger and who can be part of the project for the long term rather than a short-term fix.
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Feyenoord's Ayase Ueda is another name generating interest, having scored 25 goals in the Eredivisie this season. The Japanese international would represent a more exciting proposition, though competition for his signature will be fierce.
What is clear is that the Friedkin Group are not treating this summer as a quiet one.
Moyes has earned their trust with a season that has exceeded expectations, and the reward looks set to be serious backing in the transfer market.
The striker position is the headline priority, but it will not be the only area addressed, with Everton believed to be on the hunt for a defensive reinforcements as well.
The ambition is there. Now comes the hard part: turning it into the right signing.
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