Tim Cahill has claimed that Everton do not need to spend money to compete in the Premier League, and has admitted that the club's future is more important and sensible than breaking the bank on new players.

The Merseyside club have well documented financial problems, and only brought in loan signings over the summer, much to the frustration of the Goodison Park faithful.

Despite this, the Australia international feels this is a sensible option, and has the club's future at the forefront of his priorities.

"Everybody wants to see new faces and change, but sometimes it can't be done. We are balancing the books and we want to be a football club that's going to be around for a very long time," he told Mirror Football.

"We are creating some great young talent. We fully back the chairman, the boss and the whole club. The performance against Villa shows the start of us being positive, and that we have some real quality here still.

"Hopefully the fans who did protest can understand that this is a great football club and we can all pull together in the right direction," he continued.

Everton sold key playmaker Mikel Arteta to Arsenal on transfer deadline day, but Cahill has no qualms over the Spaniard's exit.

"It's not personal. This is business. This is football. Mikel has been a great servant to the club, but it was good business for everyone. We got some great money for him, and sometimes it comes to a point where it's time to move on.

"He's one of my closest friends. It's sad to see him go, but it was a good move for him, and good for us. I think it's worked out well for everyone," he concluded.

Everton have had a slow start to their Premier League season, and host Wigan at Goodison Park on Saturday.

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