Everton's aim, as it has been for the last few years, will be to consolidate a European spot — and maybe challenge the top six.
Marco Silva's maiden season in Merseyside saw Everton finish behind the top six and a resurgent Wolves side. A season that started on a promising note and ended on a high, could've been as memorable as it promised to be if not for the mid-season blues.
Looking to build on a relatively strong first season, Silva has spent the well to build a team capable of making into European places. The club did well to sign Andre Gomes on a permanent deal, despite strong interest from West Ham, and brought in some experience in the form of Fabian Delph from Manchester City.
With Idrissa Gueye finding a new home in Paris Saint-Germain, the club has done well to replace him with promising Mainz midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin. The £30 million acquisition of Juventus teenager Moise Kean should take the goalscoring burden off Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson, while the (unsuccessful) pursuit of Wilfred Zaha only highlights the club's ambitions.
In free agent Jonas Lossl, the club has found an able back-up to No. 1 Jordan Pickford, and the Portuguese can rotate his squad without losing the quality. However, Kurt Zouma, who was an integral part of the defence that conceded the least number of goals outside the top four last season, has returned to Chelsea after his loan spell and the club's search for his replacement only hit dead ends. The Toffees were close to signing Chelsea's Fikayo Tomori on loan but the deal fell through because of David Luiz's potential exit from Stamford Bridge.
Every signing Silva made last summer took Everton closer to the top six, with the exception of Yerry Mina who was injured for most of the season. If he can work his magic again, Everton could well end up ruffling the feathers of the established top six.
Premier League fixtures
10 - Crystal Palace v Everton
17 - Everton v Watford
23 - Aston Villa v Everton
31 - Everton v Wolves
September
15 - Bournemouth v Everton
21 - Everton v Sheffield United
28 - Everton v Manchester City
October
5 - Burnley v Everton
19 - Everton v West Ham
26 - Brighton v Everton
November
2 - Everton v Tottenham
9 - Southampton v Everton
23 - Everton v Norwich City
30: Leicester City v Everton
December
4 - Liverpool v Everton
7 - Everton v Chelsea
14 - Manchester United v Everton
21 - Everton v Arsenal
26 - Everton v Burnley
28 - Newcastle United v Everton
January
1 - Manchester City v Everton
11 - Everton v Brighton
18 - West Ham v Everton
21 - Everton v Newcastle
February
1 - Watford v Everton
8 - Everton v Crystal Palace
22 - Arsenal v Everton
29 - Everton v Manchester United
March
7 - Chelsea v Everton
14 - Everton v Liverpool
21 - Norwich City v Everton
April
4 - Everton v Leicester City
1 - Tottenham v Everton
18 - Everton v Southampton
25 - Wolves v Everton
May
2 - Everton v Aston Villa
9 - Sheffield United v Everton
17 - Everton v Bournemouth
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