Relief will be clear as Everton's summer saga draws to close

In all likelihood, the most expensive additions will be recruited over the weekend and, if that is the case, David Moyes' squad will suddenly look much more robust than it did on the day this new season began.

What's more, it will settle the jangling nerves of the long-standing, loyal supporters who had harboured understandable fears that all the good work of recent years would be squandered due to a summer of indecisiveness.

This is not say that a late spree will rectify all the problems Everton have endured since the final ball of the last campaign was kicked, as who knows how long it will take for this influx to settle into the Everton way? Time is the only thing that will answer that question.

But as commendable as it is that so many deals have been done in such a short space of time, surely Moyes, his board and players will know that they cannot leave things so late in the day again.

It should have been a summer where everyone looked forward and enjoyed seeing players come in at steady intervals and in fairness to Moyes, that is precisely what he wanted - there is no better time for signings to adjust than on the club's annual American pre-season tour.

As productive as the 10 days in Chicago and Denver were earlier this month, Moyes made no secret of the fact that his only regret was he didn't have - to be hypothetical - a Joao Moutinho or Diego Milito to welcome into the fold.

Again, to play Devil's advocate, there is not much more Moyes and Bill Kenwright could have done with some of the targets other than kidnapping them; there was nothing wrong with the personal terms they offered nor transfer fees.

Quite simply, clubs have been unwilling to do business as the players Everton have chased have been at the top end of the market and, using the example of Rennes and Stephane Mbia, clubs do not want to weaken their squads.

"We've met the demands of nearly all the players we have met," Moyes confirmed. "That's not the problem. The problem is not many clubs want to sell players. There are a lot less transfers this year compared to last year.

"There's a tightening up. And you also need big money as well. I don't feel I need to buy in mid-Premier League players. I need top players to challenge the top teams. And that means top money. I've never had a more frustrating summer."

Nor, though, have his supporters. It has been a cause for exasperation seeing teams buy when week after week passed with no activity and it certainly had an impact, as performances during pre-season were not what was expected.

Cast your mind back to the summer when Andrew Johnson, Joleon Lescott and Tim Howard arrived and think about the flying start a settled Everton team made to set them on a path that ultimately led them back into Europe.

That, if possible, has to be the template in years to come. Act fast, get players settled in and sit back to reap the dividends; they may get away with acting on the hoof this time but, as you often find on Christmas Eve morning, last minute shopping is rarely so rewarding.

dominicking@liverpoolecho.co.uk