New Everton boss Ronald Koeman wants to keep his top players at Goodison Park and may just return to former club Southampton for squad strengthening.

"I haven't spoken to Romelu (Lukaku)," Koeman confessed. "From this moment, I'm working for Everton and I will talk to several players.

"Lukaku is a key player, a goalscorer, you don't want to lose your best players. If I can do something about that, I will.

On John Stones' future, Koeman said: "I like to help everybody and sometimes you have something more, he plays where I played. There will be good support for the boy. First I would like to talk to him personally, ask what his feeling is and make conclusions."

Koeman also did not discount the possibility of looking to bring in some of the players with whom he worked at Southampton.

"If we realise we need better players or players in other positions, we will work about that. We have a budget," he said.

"I don't know [if I am going to try and sign a Southampton player]. It's difficult. I like most of the players but maybe it's best we don't make that fight today.

"I will keep it short on Southampton as it is important to look forward in life. I had a meeting with the board - the first option was to go into the third year of my contract, and I said that was not possible.

"There was no way I was signing a new contract and I did not agree. Through that whole story, Everton showed that kind of interest.

Southampton gave me the permission to talk to Everton and I'm the new manager - and that's all I would like to say.

"Thanks to them, we had two fantastic seasons - thanks to the players, staff and fans, but I'm in Everton now."