Everton FC manager David Moyes warns that his squad is 'not ready' for the new season

"If we want a run in Europe we need more players quickly. The search goes on, it has never stopped all summer and I am feeling a bit demented with it all now!

"Apart from a couple of clubs, the transfer activity around the country has been limited. But for us, to have finished fifth and reached a cup final, to improve on that costs a lot of money.

"But we don't have that money. So trying to find players who are cheap, don't want much wages and will come here to improve us, well, it is not easy."

So far, Moyes has only brought back Brazilian striker Jo on a second loan spell from Manchester City and a clutch of untried youngsters who will be in the reserve squad.

However, he remains hopeful of a positive outcome in his bid for Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos, although the clubs are believed to be still some way from agreeing a fee.

Moyes said: "We have a good team but what we do not have is back-up, and that is what we are trying to get.

"The bid for Senderos has been with (Arsenal) for a while now, and maybe it is getting closer."

Turkish club Besiktas are believed to have tabled a bid in the region of £8million for Saha who joined Everton for a nominal fee from Manchester United last summer and Moyes revealed he is delighted that the French international striker is staying.

He said: "Louis is someone we had a big bid for. But he didn't want to go and we didn't want to sell. It's great news Louis wants to stay."

Marouane Fellaini has also acknowledged that Everton will need to be at their best for their Premier League opener against Arsenal on Saturday.

He said: "Arsenal's a massive occasion.

"It's a league game, you're playing against one of the top four season after season, they were in the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, so you know you've got to be firing on all cylinders to beat them.

"We know we've got to put in a great performance to get a good result against Arsenal."

However, Everton's record signing played down fears over the debilitating virus he suffered with during pre-season which saw him lose almost a stone in weight.

He said: "Everything's fine now. I'm slowly but surely trying to put on a bit of weight, a few kilos. But it's fine, I feel great now anyway."

Meanwhile, former Everton defender Tommy Clinton has died aged 83.

The Republic of Ireland international, who passed away on Sunday, joined Everton from Dundalk in 1948 and made 80 appearances for the club, scoring five goals. He left Goodison Park in 1955 to join Blackburn Rovers and later played for Tranmere Rovers but his family connections with Everton stayed strong as his wife Muriel and daughter Nicola both worked in the stadium offices for many years.