But Moyes was keen to stress that he remains  set against selling Everton’s top players, such as  Fellaini.

“I was dead against it and to be fair I’m still  dead against it,” added Moyes.

“Don’t think I’m saying that people can come  and just take my players. But I have to realise  that if I have top players and I can’t give them  trophies, cup finals, European football, I might  have to accept that that’s what they’re  thinking.

“My big job is to keep driving us on so they  can see that Everton being a force and a real  challenge. That’s probably my biggest job now  to make sure that the players here can see that  Everton have got a chance and be competitive in  the Premier League.”

Fellaini has largely been deployed as the  support player to Everton’s lone striker this  season and though the Belgium international  has played in a number of positions through the  heart of Everton’s side since signing in 2008,  Moyes believes his current position is his best.

“I actually think his best position is where  he’s playing but he could be a number 10, a  number eight or a number four,” he said.

“He’s probably not the Michel Platini kind of  number 10 so he’s probably more a number  eight who likes to join in and get in the box.

“He’s probably a little bit less disciplined  than a number four who’d screen the back four  so he’s probably a bit in between.”

Ultimately though, Moyes does see Fellaini as  dropping deeper as he matures.

“I’ll play him in that role at different times in  the season because I don’t want us to become  one dimensional and play him in the same  position all the time,” Moyes said.

“If we get injuries or suspensions to Ossie or  Phil Neville, Felli is the obvious one who would  drop in there.

“If you asked me where I think he will develop  by the time he’s 28/29 I’d say he might end up  dropping back but because he’s got a goal in  him, because he’s a threat and can take the ball  on his chest and be used direct, he becomes  someone who can be used in a lot of ways.

“He’s got his size but he’s also got feather feet  and he’s got great ball control.”