Everton

Projected starting XI

Jordan Pickford; Leighton Baines, Ashley Williams, Michael Keane, Séamus Coleman; Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye, Davy Klaassen; Sandro Ramirez, Wayne Rooney, Kevin Mirallas (but only until Gylfi Sigurdsson arrives)

How do you feel about your club's summer transfer business?

This has been an excellent summer for Everton. For once, targets were identified ahead of time, and deals were done nice and early. Especially with the Toffees having to go through a round or two of Europa League qualifiers, it was of paramount importance the backbone of the team was in place and settled as soon as the transfer window opened. There's still another two or three signings expected, but for the most part, the side looks good.

Are you happy with ownership? Elated? Cautiously optimistic? Furious?

Elated is more like it. Under Farhad Moshiri's guidance, off the pitch Everton have paid off all loan debt, brought in large sums of money via sponsorship deals, upgraded training facilities, given Goodison Park a cosmetic uplift, and have solid plans in place for a dream stadium on the docks. On footballing terms, manager Ronald Koeman and Director of Football Steve Walsh have gotten all the backing they need from the board as far as making player decisions.

What's the highest reasonable goal your team has and what needs to go right to get there?

A top-four finish would be quite the achievement considering how much money has been splashed around this offseason by the top sides. With Everton competing on four fronts, additional squad depth in the remaining portion of the transfer window would be required for the Blues to finish in the Champions League spots. Aside from that, if Everton can stay out of injury trouble and are able to be opportunistic when the chances present themselves, a great season beckons.

What are you scared of that might derail your season?

There are still some concerns about chance creation and where the goals are going to come from. In addition, long-term injuries to Seamus Coleman, Yannick Bolasie, and Ramiro Funes Mori are all genuine concerns for a squad that is deeper in numbers than in quality. Koeman's taken a gamble on Wayne Rooney staying fit for the whole season, and new signings Sandro Ramirez and Davy Klaassen adjusting to the Premier League, so those are risks as well.

Who's a player on your team that neutrals might not know much about, but should become fans of?

Most of the players are Premier League proven and therefore quite well-known, but the aforementioned Sandro and Klaassen are two that might have gone under the radar. Sandro is a Barcelona product that electrified La Liga last season while Klaassen showed plenty of class and poise in the middle of the pitch.

Everton have also been unafraid of fielding youngsters, and Under-20 World Cup winners Ademola Lookman and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are a pair to keep an eye on.

Who will be your team's MVP this season, and why?

The sentimental choice would be Rooney coming back home to lead the Toffees to a first trophy win since 1995, putting in a stellar season that sees him return to the England fold in a World Cup year. However, it's Sandro who we'd be expecting to lead the team in scoring. The Spaniard has pace and is a tremendous finisher, and while we're not expecting him to be a Golden Boot contender, his goals could be key for the Blues this season.

What do you think makes your team's fan culture better than any other team's?

Everton have long been known as the People's Club, and this is embodied throughout the team and by the fans as well. Lack of success over the last couple of decades after being one of the best teams in the country has gotten the fans hungry for silverware. Those dour and dark days have only served to make us more humble, but the ambition remains undimmed and now backed by Moshiri's millions, the proud Blues are ready to resume our place among the top clubs in the nation.