Everton manager Roberto Martinez has admitted that the Goodison Park club missed out on the signature of Manchester United midfield misfit Tom Cleverley this summer, and saw their target make a loan switch to Aston Villa instead, as reported by the Daily Express.

The England international had been targeted by Martinez in a bid to improve his side for the Europa League, but the move did not come to fruition for the former Wigan Athletic boss.

Martinez did, in fact, have Cleverley on loan at Wigan while he was manager there, and the midfielder impressed with the Latics before becoming a part of Man Utd’s first team.

Cleverley has become something of a figure of humour at Man Utd since his return to the club, with many doubting his ability. Martinez clearly thought he could improve a side that will be looking to finish above the Old Trafford club this season.

Regarding the failed move, he said: “Always on the last day of the transfer window opportunities arise and we looked at a couple.

“I felt it was an opportunity for us to add a player to bring something different but at the end it wasn’t right. It didn’t work out.

“We tried to look into a couple of opportunities, but they didn’t come off and the reality is they probably weren’t the right ones.”