Former Everton star Michael Ball has told Football FanCast that manager Carlo Ancelotti will want to bring in “top players” this summer and expects the club to spend big to do so.

The Toffees brought in a number of big-name recruits last summer, including James Rodriguez, Allan, and Ben Godfrey.

The club are currently eighth in the Premier League table and sit six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand on the Blues.

One has to think that they will need to win every game if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the Champions League but they could well find themselves in the Europa League if their form continues.

While they have drawn three of their last five games, the club are unbeaten in four, and beat Arsenal 1-0 in their last outing.

Nevertheless, Ball believes that Ancelotti will want to invest in the squad this summer, and expects owner Farhad Moshiri to give him the money to do so.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “If it’s possible, I think they will spend the money, whether the rules say they can, they have spent a lot of money, they are on the cusp of the Financial Fair Play and the Premier League situation.

“So I feel we still need to try and get as much money in for the players who are unwanted. But I feel Carlo will want to bring in top players and Moshiri will have the money to give to him.

“Whether he’s allowed to spend what he wants is another question but I think this season has been pretty positive for being an Evertonian.”