David Moyes has made a bold claim that his Everton side were just one quality striker short of challenging for the Premier League title on a consistent basis.

Despite working on a shoestring budget, Moyes managed to consistently guide Everton to the top seven and his side even finished as high as fourth during a spectacular season back in 2004/05.

Now Moyes has been speaking regarding his time at Everton and has indicated that perhaps his Toffees side could have challenged for the title if they had the money to sign a top quality attacker.

Ahead of Monday night's clash with Everton at the Stadium Light, the Sunderland boss said: "It was a big decision when I was coming to the end of my contract.

"I wanted a bit of time to make my decision because I didn't want to overstay my welcome. I probably would have stayed at Everton.

"I had offers that year to join some big clubs in England and in Europe but I wouldn't have taken those jobs – it was only when the Man United thing came up.

"We had a great team at Everton but we were missing a centre forward. I might be exaggerating but I think with that we would have been close to winning the Premier League, we were that good.

"But we couldn't get the finances to buy a centre forward in the last couple of years of my time. In the last two years we finished above Liverpool in the league.

"You look at their spending over the years and that was a big thing. But we just couldn't break the top four because didn't have the finances to buy a centre forward."