Paul Merson says Everton need four or five new players

Follow us on Google Discover

Everton endured a disappointing 2017-18 Premier League campaign.

Former Arsenal attacking midfielder Paul Merson has told Sky Sports that Everton need four or five new players in the summer transfer window.

Merson has also suggested that Everton will not finish higher than seventh in the Premier League during the 2018-19 campaign.

“There’s not much cause for optimism next season,” Merson told Sky Sports about Everton in regard to next season.

“They need about four or five players because the recruitment this season just hasn’t been good enough. The team suffered because of a lack of pace.

“They would need to improve but what’s improvement? Finishing above Burnley? That’s what you are looking at, finishing seventh. You’d expect them to finish above Burnley next season.”

Disappointing season

Everton finished eighth in the Premier League this season, and one suspects that many fans will be disappointed.

Given that the Toffees were aiming to break into the top six – or at least challenge – at the start of the season, the way the team went down towards the relegation zone must have been bitterly disappointing and frustrating.

It is hard to see Everton challenge for the Champions League places anytime soon, but the Merseyside outfit could push for the fifth or the sixth spot.

After all, at one stage of the season, it did look as though Burnley will finish above Arsenal in sixth place in the Premier League.

For Everton to succeed next season, they need to appoint a good manager and make good signings in the summer transfer window.