Everton boss Marco Silva insists he will give his young players a chance this season - despite their signing spree.

Even though he signed seven players in the summer transfer window — four of them on deadline day itself — the new Everton manager insisted he is more excited by the youngsters who are the future of the club.

Speaking about the refusal to let 20-year-old Ademola Lookman leave, even though he was wanted by RB Leipzig after last season's successful loan, he said: “Of course he's in my plans. He's our present and he's our future.

“From the first day, I told him and I told our board he is a player I believe in.

“First, he has to understand he's at a big club. I think he understands and I'm here to be clear with him. He went on loan and was happy there, he enjoyed the football too. Now he deserves to come in and to stay with us. And now he has to fight for his place.

“I'm here to do everything I can to make him happy again, to put him in contention to fight for a place in the starting eleven — and then it's for him to keep it. It's not a case of we brought in Richarlison or Bernard as well. If he's in a better position and form than the others then, for sure, he will play."