Ronald Koeman is having a tough ol’ time of it at the moment, isn’t he?

The Dutchman guided his new Everton team to a healthy start to this season, but things have headed rather south since then. Managing Everton on Football Manager is, fortunately, significantly less challenging than it is in the harsher, colder Merseyside reality.

Players like Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley do not suffer from the same consistency issues on Football Manager, while you are handy the size of transfer kitty that is usually reserved for some of the game’s bigger clubs. Of course, you can thank the new Toffees’ owners for that one.

So where do you start? Well, the squad has a fair bit of work to do to get it ready to really compete near the top of the Premier League table. For all of Everton’s obvious strengths, the club are possessing a squad with rather ugly weaknesses.

Even with all that money, you will need to be rather frugal if you are to make any meaningful progress…

Ayoze Perez

Newcastle will push you hard in negotiations for Ayoze Perez, but a structured deal should mean that a deal for a total fee of under £12million is feasible.

With the potential that the Spaniard possesses, both as a creative no.10 and false nine, he can add an extra dimension to the attacking options at Goodison Park.

Lewis Dunk

The arrival of Ashley Williams adds to the Toffees’ central defensive options, but there is still a need for reinforcements – particularly when players with the potential of Dunk are available.

Jagielka’s mobility limitations restrict the off-the-ball tactics you can employ, while Ramiro Funes Mori is worth cashing in on in the first summer of your save.

Gonzalo Martinez

With Gerard Deulofeu, Kevin Mirallas and Yannick Bolasie around, wing options are not going to be at the top of the priorities at the start of an Everton save. However, Gonzalo Martinez is available at such value, with some real standout numbers, that he should be under consideration.

Raise some funds by selling on other less reliable wingers and bring Martinez in. Pace, flair and the ability to beat even the best full-backs make him a great Football Manager 17 star.

Hernanes

Often found on the transfer list in the opening summer of a save, Hernanes is a player that can have his head turned to Goodison Park with the right offer.

Idrissa Gueye must be the lynchpin of the Everton midfield, but a talented passer is needed in the middle third for the Toffees. Hernanes can create chances even from a deep-lying role and would be a significant upgrade on the current options.

Youri Tielemans

When signing a player, considering value is about so much more than the immediate returns. This rings so very true in the case of Youri Tielemans.

Signing Tielemans in the first season is not the best deal you will ever see, but, should he get anywhere near his potential, he will become one of the best midfielders in the world.

Ready for at least a rotation role even in 2016/17, Tielemans could be the ideal man to play alongside Gueye.