Fansided

Preseason Premier League interesting rankings

By Michael Harshbarger

HOUSTON, TX - JULY 20: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the International Champions Cup 2017 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at NRG Stadium on July 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 20: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the International Champions Cup 2017 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at NRG Stadium on July 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 21: Ross Barkley of Everton during the Premier League match between Arsenal v Everton at Emirates Stadium on May 21, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 21: Ross Barkley of Everton during the Premier League match between Arsenal v Everton at Emirates Stadium on May 21, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images) /

4. Everton

Everton are like middle school kids who hang around high school parties hoping to be asked to join in on the fun. In their last 11 Premier League seasons, the Toffees have finished between fifth and eighth place nine times (they came in at 11th the other two). They’re a very good top-half of the table team, but can’t seem to break through the barrier of superclubs guarding the Champions League spots.

With that as a backdrop, their wheeling and dealing during the summer transfer window makes a lot of sense. Manager Ronald Koeman has brought in eight new players already, including three transfers that cost well over £20 million each: defender Michael Keane, keeper Jordan Pickford and midfielder Davy Klaassen. But Everton’s two biggest prizes are former Swansea star Gylfi Sigurdsson and prodigal son Wayne Rooney.

Rooney grew up an Everton fan and started his professional career at Goodison Park. After leaving for Manchester United to score a bunch of goals and win a bunch of trophies, he has come back to his boyhood club. While Rooney certainly isn’t the player he once was, and he won’t come close to replacing Romelu Lukaku, he appears to have enough left in the tank to be a positive influence on and off the field for Everton.

The new faces will join a strong core of veterans including Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Ross Barkley, Morgan Schneiderlin, Aaron Lennon and Kevin Mirallas. Will this finally be the season Everton make the leap into the top four? I wouldn’t bet on it, but it sure will be fun to watch them try.