Manchester City director of scouting and recruitment James Smith is set to be reunited with David Moyes by returning to Everton
David Moyes is continuing to reshape his recruitment team by bringing James Smith back to Everton from Manchester City. As first reported by the Athletic, the ECHO understands that Smith, who is director of scouting and recruitment at the Etihad Stadium, is expected to rejoin the Blues.
When it comes to identifying players, Smith has long been a trusted confidant for Moyes, who brought him to Goodison Park in 2013 and he then followed the Scot to Manchester United a decade later. His proposed return to Everton is set to continue the behind-the-scenes revamp under new chief executive Angus Kinnear and the article by the Athletic states: “There is a healthy relationship between the Premier League sides and talks over Smith’s return to Merseyside have been amicable.
“Smith has been placed on gardening leave by City, who are also restructuring their set-up under new director of football Hugo Viana. Viana is picking up where his predecessor, Txiki Begiristain, left off in aiming to strengthen the link between senior and youth levels at the Etihad Stadium.
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“A reunion of Moyes and Smith will be seen by many as a coup for Everton, with the former highly-regarded in the game after his work at the two Manchester clubs. Smith would effectively replace Dan Purdy, Everton’s former head of recruitment who the Athletic revealed in April had decided to leave, who has since joined former Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell at Rangers.
“Everton’s new set-up also includes Nick Hammond as head of trading/negotiating, having joined from Leeds United, and Chris Howarth, the head of strategy. They are also hoping to install a new head of football operations following a process being handled by executive search firm Nolan Partners.”
