David Unsworth wants Everton to continue scouring both local and overseas markets to bring the best young talent to the club.
Everton completed a deal for 17-year-old Swedish midfielder Imam Jagne in October as well as landing Jarrad Branthwaite from Carlisle United last January.
Danish defender Sebastian Kristensen is another teenager to have arrived under director of football Marcel Brands in April 2019 when a deal was agreed with Lyngby BK.
Everton under-23 manager Unsworth was appointed director of academy in September in a role designed to 'bring all teams below the senior squad into one management structure' and provide a smoother pathway from academy to first-team.
The former Everton defender said: “We’re always looking to sign quality players.
“For me, it’s important to really scour the local market. There’s nothing finer than a Liverpool boy coming through the system, an Evertonian who has been brought up in the city… It’s wonderful to recruit the local talent.
“You also have to look further afield, though. We have to abide by the rule and regulations set out by the Premier League, of course.
“But if there are quality players there – who buy into the Everton way, who we can get in and coach and are good enough – then we won’t have any hesitation in taking those quality players.”
Unsworth also admitted he is excited by the recently launched Everton International Academy Affiliate Programme.
Several clubs and academies from the United States of America and Australia have joined the scheme and the 47-year-old believes there are mutual benefits to be explored.
Unsworth said: “The programme is something I couldn’t wait to get on board with.
“It promotes the great Everton name.
“We’ve got outstanding staff at Everton and I think it’s good practice to share what we do. We haven’t got any secrets. We are open, we have good people.
“And when good people deliver outstanding practice, then other people want to see that. A lot of clubs are keen to see what we do and how we do it, and we’re happy to share that.
“There are also a lot of opportunities for our coaches to see what other coaches are delivering, in terms of best practice. We can improve as well, of course.
“Also, the programme could help us identify some players. Who knows where it could lead?”
