Everton manager Sam Allardyce trusts club's director of football Steve Walsh to do the business in January

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Sam Allardyce has pinpointed the need for Everton to successfully recruit in January and outlined the importance of his relationship with Steve Walsh.

Everton’s director of football came under-fire at the time of Ronald Koeman’s sacking in October and there was pressure on his position for the role he played in the most expensive recruitment drive in the club’s history, with many signings underwhelming.

The alliance between Walsh and Koeman was strained to the point that they were only communicating when it was necessary but he has a much more open relationship with Allardyce, with whom he previously worked at Newcastle.

Sam Allardyce has pinpointed the need for Everton to successfully recruit in January

Allardyce – whose priority next month is a striker – knows the key to him extending his stay at Goodison Park beyond the initial 18 month deal he has signed depends on the quality of players he brings in but he feels him and Walsh stand an excellent chance of delivering success.

‘I’m not going to comment on what Ronald did or didn’t do,’ said Allardyce. 

‘What I will comment on is that Steve and I have known each other for a huge amount time and I have every faith in the process we will have and hopefully it will be successful.

Steve Walsh came under-fire at the time of Ronald Koeman’s sacking in October 

‘The massive pressure which comes and falls upon me as a manager, Steve as the director of football and the owner (Farhad Moshiri) who is finding the money or generating the money within the club is a huge decision now.

‘If it goes wrong because that player gets devalued, it is very difficult to move them on as nobody will give him the sort of money they are earning. 

'That is a huge task and a huge responsibility for us all and me, Steve and the system we are going to try and use to make decisions going forward.’