Everton chief Marcel Brands admits they were quickly priced out of any chance of landing Crystal Palace ace Wilfried Zaha last summer.

Brands branded Everton's chase of Zaha “not realistic".

Speaking at last night's Toffees AGM, Brands said: “Look at last summer, from the start there was a lot of rumours and news that we would like to take Zaha.

“And if you see our numbers then you know it is not realistic for Everton to buy a player for £60m, £70m, £80m.

“So that kind of expectation is sometimes a different kind of expectation for fans and it is not realistic and we have to manage that.

“Of course, we want to get the best players but we have to be realistic if you see our numbers."