EPL 2017/18: How Everton could line up this season

It has certainly been a busy summer for Everton Football Club thus far with numerous ins and outs in the transfer market already.

Their player of the year from last season, Romelu Lukaku, completed his move to Manchester United for an initial fee of £75 million earlier this month and his former teammate Ross Barkley is widely expected to follow him out of Goodison Park before the transfer window slams shut.

Ronald Koeman has also trimmed some of the fat from his squad in recent weeks with the likes of Aiden McGeady, Arouna Kone and Gerard Deulofeu all leaving the club. However, the Everton manager wasted no time in bringing players into the side too and was not shy in spending the money that majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, has invested in the club since his arrival.

The Toffees’ starting XI will certainly look a lot different than the previous season’s campaign and Koeman has many options in his squad that will keep his opponents second guessing his potential tactics. But with that being said, here’s how Everton could line-up for the upcoming Premier League season…

GK - Jordan Pickford

Pickford could be Everton's number one for many years to come

One of Everton’s first pieces of business in the current transfer window was to splash out £30 million for Sunderland’s 23-year old goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford.

This was an area of the team that the Blues were expected to invest in this summer after both Joel Robles and Maarten Stekelenburg’s performances left much to be desired at times last season.

Pickford was given the number one jersey upon his arrival and is expected to be Koeman’s first choice between the sticks for the upcoming campaign.

Can Holgate fill the void left by Seamus Coleman?

RB - Mason Holgate

After the horrendous double leg break that Seamus Coleman suffered towards the end of last season while on International duty, Everton have had to look for a replacement for the Irishman who has made the Blues’ right-back position his own in recent years.

Coleman is expected to be out until at least the end of the year and Koeman has brought in Cuco Martina from Southampton for cover in that area.

However, Mason Holgate impressed for the Toffees in the previous campaign, despite his young age, and could well be the first-choice right-back for Everton while Coleman remains sidelined.

LB - Leighton Baines

As for the opposite full-back position, Leighton Baines seems the obvious choice to remain cemented at left-back with competition for that area very thin after the loan departure of Brendan Galloway to Sunderland.

Baines is one of Everton’s most experienced and influential players now and could find himself captaining the side with current club captain, Phil Jagielka, expected to provide a supporting role for the upcoming season.

Keane is a new arrival at Everton after joining from Burnley

CB - Michael Keane

Michael Keane is another new arrival at Goodison Park after his £30 million transfer from Burnley. The 24-year old centre-back impressed last season and had a number of potential suitors, including his former club Manchester United, before finalising his deal with Everton.

Keane will be looking to start this new chapter of his career by cementing his place at the heart of Everton’s defence, as well as England’s after having recently made his debut for the National side.

CB - Ashley Williams

With Ramiro Funes Mori set to miss the majority of the 2017/18 campaign through injury and Jagielka expected to have a reduced role at Everton next season, Ashley Williams is expected to partner Keane in Everton’s backline.

With the likes of Holgate and Keane still young in their Premier League careers, Everton will be relying on Williams to use his experience and leadership skills on the pitch to organise the Blues’ defence.

Is Gueye the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League?

CM - Idrissa Gueye

Idrissa Gueye’s stats over the last couple of seasons have matched up against the best midfielders in Europe and he has fast become a key player for Everton.

He was arguably the Toffees’ most consistent player last season and Koeman will be hoping that the Senegalese International can turn in similar level of performances in the upcoming campaign.

Schneiderlin will be key for Everton in his first full season with the club

CM - Morgan Schneiderlin

After his move to Everton from Manchester United in the January 2017 transfer window, Morgan Schneiderlin impressed the Blues faithful with his form in the second half of the season.

At 27-years old, the Frenchman is entering the prime years of his career and Everton will be hoping that he can continue his high level of performances and help the club have a successful season, both in the league and in Europe.

Mirallas has recently signed a new contract at Everton

RW - Kevin Mirallas

Kevin Mirallas is about to enter his sixth season at Everton and, while he has impressed at times, he has struggled to cement himself as a regular starter at the club during his tenure.

However, the Belgian signed a new contract with the Toffees at the end of last season and looks set to be in Ronald Koeman’s plans for the upcoming campaign. Mirallas will be hoping he can finally become a key player for the Blues, despite the amount of competition in his position.

CAM - Davy Klaassen

Yet another new arrival at Everton for the 2017/18 season is former Ajax man, Davy Klaassen. While he is yet to appear in the division, the Dutchman seems tailor-made for the Premier League due to his hardworking playing style.

Fellow Dutchman and current Everton manager, Ronald Koeman, will be hoping that Klaassen hits the ground running and will continue to contribute plenty of assists and goals from midfield, as he did at Ajax.

Everton's prodigal son has returned

LW - Wayne Rooney

There has been a lot of buzz around Goodison Park over the last few weeks due to the club’s transfer business, but nothing got people talking about Everton more than the return of Wayne Rooney.

A hot topic surrounding Rooney in recent seasons is what position he should play. While I expect that there will a lot of rotation in Everton’s front four over the course of the season, I would imagine that Rooney will be used in a slightly deeper role to help link the play between midfield and attack.

ST - Sandro Ramirez

The man I expect to lead the line for Everton in the upcoming campaign is new signing and former Barcelona man, Sandro Ramirez.

Not only will Sandro provide goals for the Blues, but his work-rate and off-the-ball movement will free up space for the likes of Rooney, Mirallas and Klaassen behind him.

At just 22 years of age and signing for £5.2 million, Sandro has the potential to be a bargain signing for Everton and could play a key part in the side this season.