DAVID MOYES believes getting Sunderland’s recruitment policy right will be key to making them a more sustainable Premier League model – just like he did when at Everton.

The former Toffees boss had 11 years in charge at Goodison Park and turned them into an established top eight side before taking over at Manchester United in the summer of 2013.

While his record at Old Trafford and then Real Sociedad was not what he would have liked – in difficult circumstances, he would argue – he knows his achievements at Everton are what he would like to replicate on Wearside.

He has signed a four-year deal on Wearside and has made a number of offers for new players, with talks for a couple of players at an advanced stage as he looks to strengthen a thin squad with ten days until the Premier League’s opening weekend.

Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj is known to be among his targets, while re-signing DeAndre Yedlin and Yann M’Vila after last season’s successful loans at the Stadium of Light are in his thinking. He also wants more, though.

“I would argue I had the best recruitment in the Premier League’s history at Everton, if you look at the times we had, the players we brought in for the money we had,” said Moyes.

“I would say we did that as well as anywhere in the country. I think at that time we were a great club, so I don’t take that away, but it needed turning around as well. Sunderland, Sam has left in a better place, he’s kept them up but only by the skin of their teeth again. That has to change.”

He was responsible for developing the talents of a long list of players during his time at Everton and he is keen to ensure the players he has at his disposal at Sunderland will benefit just as much – because the team will be greater for it.

Moyes said: “I am going to have to find players who I think can progress. We have to go and find players who will become future international players, like Leighton Baines or Phil Jagielka were for me.

“Those people of the game, the Joleon Lescotts, players who we bought and went on to become international players, I would like to follow a similar path if it is possible here. I would like to go that direction, rather than always buying just to stay up.”

For now, though, he will settle for players who can make Sunderland a stronger unit ahead of the trip to Manchester City on Saturday week. Injuries and departures have severely reduced his options to start that game, so he needs to hear some good news on the transfer front soon.

He said: “In the short term I am trying to buy a bit of player to keep me up and then maybe in the long term do a bit of both if possible.

“I don't want to be held to how many I need because that will depend on what's available but I think it's well documented that we've been short of a right-back, definitely.

“And we've only got one centre-forward really in Jermain Defoe – we've got others who can do the job at other times. But I would like to strengthen in most areas if it comes up. The truth is I won't get it all done. But I'll try to get good bits of it done if I can.”