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Discussion over Andre Gomes' future at Everton has dominated the club in recent months and Marco Silva's recent admission on the subject suggests that Farhad Moshiri has a big role to play.

What's the word?

Silva was asked about the future of two of his loan stars in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

The two players in questions are, of course, Andre Gomes and Kurt Zouma, and he made a cryptic comment on the former which suggests Moshiri needs to make a huge statement in the transfer market once again.

According to Paul Joyce, Northern Football Correspondent for The Times, Silva had this to say on Gomes: "He has not decided anything on his future. Now it up to us to show ambition. Nine months ago we believed in Andre more than other clubs."

Moshiri must spend big once again

Silva's comments regarding ambition suggest that Gomes wants to see tangible evidence of Everton's desire to break the status quo in English football.

A player of his technical prowess ought to be playing in the Champions League or in the Europa League at the very least.

The manner in which he has resurrected his career at Goodison Park this season suggests that there will be no shortage of suitors who can offer European football to the creative midfielder and, unless Moshiri is willing to invest in players who can take the Toffees to that level, it's unlikely that Gomes will be inclined to make his stay permanent.

If we're reading between the lines it's fair to say that Gomes has already communicated this to the Portuguese boss. His claim, per Daily Mail, that the "relationship [between him and Gomes] is really honest from the first day," vindicates that assumption.

A permanent deal for Gomes would be a metaphorical game-changer for Everton. Players of his quality and prestigious footballing background are seldom convinced to sign for clubs who cannot offer European football, particularly when a Champions League finalist is expressing an interest in their signature.

Moshiri has already spent eye watering figures on transfer fees since arriving at the club, but if he wants to keep the Portuguese fan favourite on Merseyside he's going to have to do that once again this summer.