Moyes tempts recruitment guru Smith back to Everton

Former Everton scout James Smith is set to return to the Club after more than a decade away to join the Blues' new recruitment setup.

According to The Athletic, Smith, who currently serves as Manchester City's director of scouting and recruitment, will come on board at Finch Farm this summer to effecrtively replace outgoing head of recruitment, Dan Purdy, who is joining Kevin Thelwell at Rangers.

Smith has been put on "gardening leave" by City who are themselves revamping their own recruitment setup with the appointment of Hugo Viana as director of football at the Etihad.

The appointment of Smith, who worked under Moyes between 2003 and 2013 and has served at both Manchester clubs, is regarded as something of a coup for Everton who have also recenty brought in Nick Hammond to head up trading and negotiations and Chris Howarth as head of strategy.

Smith will report to new CEO, Angus Kinnear, who, alongside Moyes, is expected to be central to Everton's transfer strategy this summer as the Club undergoes an unprecedented team-rebuilding project.

Ashley Young, Joao Virginia, Asmir Begovic and Abdoulaye Doucoure have all left at the end of their respective contracts while four of the five players who were on loan at Goodison Park last season have returned to their parent clubs.

Only Charly Alcaraz was retained, signed in a £12m deal at the start of this month, while it is hoped that Idrissa Gana Gueye will accept terms on a new deal. Talks continue with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michael Keane but neither player is expected to stay as things currently stand.