Fantastic four that you just may have missed... Young recruits being primed for the future.

Byline: PHIL KIRKBRIDE

IT'S maybe not what Evertonians had in mind when they were promised big name signings, but there's no doubt Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is a very big name - at a Scrabble-busting 20-letters one of the biggest in Premier League history in fact.

He might even have been the biggest currently operating in the English top flight, until Hull City went and bought Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

But it's not just the big names who kept Everton manager David Moyes busy in the latest transfer window.

Bilyaletdinov, Johnny Heitinga, Sylvain Distin and Jo might have commanded the headlines - but the Blues actually added eight names to their squad during the transfer window.

As well as spending millions on players for the present, Everton boss Moyes worked equally hard, scouring the globe to find the hidden gems who will shape the club's future.

Anton Peterlin, Cody Arnoux, Shkodran Mustafi and Luke Garbutt were all signed with one eye on the future.

Today we give you a run-down on the four players who may have slipped under your Everton radar this summer.

1. CODY ARNOUX WHEN Yakubu scored after barely 30 seconds of his Everton reserve team comeback recently, Evertonians licked their lips in relish.

Twenty-one year old Cody Arnoux, however, might have been forgiven for shrugging and saying "so what?" Last year the American scored two goals in 36 seconds for Wake Forest University against Davidson - and established an impressive reputation Stateside as a prolific goalscorer.

Signed from Carolina Dynamo, after impressing in the same trial that also saw midfielder Anton Peterlin join the Blues, the New Yorker scored 13 goals in 16 appearances in the USA's Premier Development League (the fourth tier of US soccer, with a standard equivalent to the English Conference).

Die-hard Blues fans may already have grabbed a glimpse of the 5'10" marksman.

On Tuesday night at Manchester City Reserves, Cody came on at half-time for Yakubu and he was an unused substitute in the Blues' pre-season friendly with Championship side Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on August 4. Having earned international honours at Under-15 and Under-18 level, Arnoux played for Wake Forest University before making the switch to Dynamo earlier this year, and signed a one-year-deal with the club.

With the striking positions some of the most hotly contested at Goodison, the youngster will have his work cut out trying to force his way ahead of Saha, Yakubu, Anichebe, Vaughan, Jo and co. but he is determined to take his big chance.

2. SHKODRAN MUSTAFI GERMAN players have far from an illustrious history at Everton but one of the club's summer signings will be looking to change all that.

Goalkeeper Stefan Wessels made seven appearances for the Blues during the 2007/08 campaign, including a debut against Manchester United, but his services were not retained.

His fellow countryman Shkodran Mustafi, however, is looking to make a bigger impact.

The 17-year-old central defender joined David Moyes' side in July on a three-year-contract. A German Under-17 international, he moved to the Premier League after three season with Bundesliga outfit Hamburg.

Mustafi's rise through the national ranks is causing a stir in his homeland and given the right opportunities, the Bad Hersfeld born star could go on to become the first ever full German international at Goodison Park.

No fee was involved in his switch, although the club are required to pay FIFA training compensation.

Mustafi said: "I had three good years at Hamburg but now this is a new chapter. It was a hard decision to leave home but it's another country, another language and I'm looking forward to it.

"I hope I have a good start and I can learn to improve on my weaknesses. Then I hope I can move through the reserves into the first team and get a chance to prove myself. I feel like I will get that chance here."

3. LUKE GARBUTT JUDGING by the reaction from Leeds at the capture of young Luke Garbutt, Everton have snapped up a potential star of the future.

While David Moyes railed against Manchester City's prolonged pursuit of Joleon Lescott, Elland Road chairman Ken Bates was typically outspoken about a Premier League club "nicking Leeds players and paying peanuts."

Garbutt is an England under-17 left-back whose move to Goodison first made headlines after he informed pals on his Facebook site he was leaving Elland Road for Everton.

Whatever stir Everton's capture of the starlet may have caused in Yorkshire, they can draw comfort in the fact they have a player for the future who turned down an apparently "exceptional offer" and instead joined Everton.

Garbutt played for Everton Reserves GERMAN ACE: Shkodran Mustafi in Tuesday night's 4-1 defeat at Manchester City and in Leeds the youngster was widely regarded as a certain first team prospect in the making having become a regular fixture in the Leeds reserve side last year.

But with United failing to tie Garbutt down on a professional contract, Everton pounced to sign the Harrogate born player as a scholar.

Garbutt has already represented England at Under-16 and Under-17 level, scoring for the latter.

4. ANTON PETERLIN'S move to Merseyside from American minnows Ventura County Fusion has been likened to the plot of the Hollywood movie Goal!

If the defensive midfielder goes on to echo Santiago Munez and score a last minute winner against Liverpool to secure Champions League football, Blues fans will be ecstatic!

Peterlin was first recommended to David Moyes by Graham Smith, head coach of Peterlin''s former team, Ventura County Fusion (but not the former Everton Youth coach).

Fusion play in the US Development League (a standard equivalent to the English Conference) and while it's been a long time since footballers like John Barton and Eamonn O'Keefe made the switch from non-league football to the Blues first team, the example of US defender Jay DeMerit, who moved from non-league Northwood to Premier League Watford, shows that it's possible.

All that's missing is the movie deal.

"It really is dream come true," said Peterlin.

"I've always aspired to play at the highest level."

CAPTION(S):

GOING PLACES: Jose Baxter, another youngster who has impressed sufficiently to make a first team breakthrough STAR QUALITY: Dan Gosling has flourished since joining Everton