Sometimes, Marcel Brands’ phone rings in middle of the night. And as Everton’s director of football rolls over in bed to answer, he will already know who is calling: his boss.



Farhad Moshiri is determined to make Everton great again. And when he thinks he’s worked out how, Everton’s owner will pick up his phone to Brands or the head coach Marco Silva, enthusiastic to share his latest idea.



“Moshiri could call the coach or Marcel at 2am and say: ‘I’ve been thinking… do you think we could get so and so…?’,” a source tells The Athletic.



“He might read something about Gareth Bale being unsettled and ask what would it take to get him?



“He’s a reactive guy and instinctive. You don’t become as successful as he has in business and not trust your instincts, but this is his first foray into making big calls in football and football is very different to any other...