Which of the Premier League’s top six should be most worried about free-spending Everton?

In the absurdly wealthy world of the Premier League, a club’s potential to break into the Champions
 League clique is invariably measured by how much cash they can bring to bear when handing out
contracts and signing players capable of improving what they already have. Good practise and steady
 progress rarely brings with it the rewards that honest punters, who still believe that football is a
competitive meritocracy for every side involved, believe should be the end result of careful, long-
sighted management. That’s why Ronald Koeman swapped Southampton for Everton in June 2016,
 to trade his position as the head coach of a team widely regarded as one of the best run in England, if
 not in Europe, for a shot at the big time, in charge of a squad backed by the riches of new owner
Farhad Moshiri, and a production line of exciting local talent.


While the Saints may have consistently punched above their weight under the Dutchman and his
predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino, thanks in part due to their own impressive academy set-up and an
eye for a bargain, the Toffees have grand plans: a new stadium on the Mersey, upgrades to their
facilities at Finch Farm and a recruitment drive to equip the club for an assault on the top four. At
least that’s the idea. Everton's Dutch manager Ronald Koeman arrives for the English Premier
League football match between Everton and Sunderland at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west
England on February 25, 2017. / AFP / Oli SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use
 with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-
match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single
club/league/player publications.

Everton have already been one of the most active Premier League teams in the transfer window this
summer, bringing in defender Michael Keane from Burnley, former Barcelona striker Sandro
Ramirez from Malaga, ex-Ajax captain Davy Klassen, winger Henry Onyekuru and Jordan Pickford.
The 23-year-old became the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of British football when his
move from Sunderland was confirmed on July 1. Last season, they splashed out on Yannick Bolasie,
Ashley Williams and Idrissa Gueye.

In January, they signed Morgan Schneiderlin from Manchester United. More business is expected
 before the close of the 2017 summer transfer window too. If the players keep on coming, which sides
 within the top six should be worried by the potential challenge that the Toffees could offer in the
years ahead?

Arsenal

Everton's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku (C) celebrates scoring their first goal during the English
Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on
 May 21, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Justin TALLIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with
 unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use
 limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player
publications.


After falling out of the top four for the first time during Arsene Wenger’s reign last season, the
Gunners are arguably the side set to be most exposed to any threat posed by Everton next season.
Thursday night commitments in the Europa League will drain both sides, yet opponents are more
likely to try and raise their game at the Emirates than Goodison Park. Any further slip-ups could see
the North Londoners caught out by the Blues, who were able to close the gap between sixth and
seventh at impressive speed last season. Threat level: Medium – Arsenal still have a far superior
squad and more money to throw around, but if Everton get their act together, the Gunners will be
under more pressure than ever.

Chelsea

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 30:


Pedro of Chelsea scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Everton and
 Chelsea at Goodison Park on April 30, 2017 in Liverpool, England. The reigning champions should have little to worry about when it comes to Everton as a rival for signings or finishing places but their
 hopes of bringing Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge could be frustrated due to the Moshiri
factor.


With money in the coffers, the Toffees don’t need to sell and can drive a hard bargain for their prized
asset. In the long-term, given Koeman’s readiness to give youth a chance, Finch Farm could prove to
be an annoying distraction for the best and brightest talents coming off the production line at the
Chelsea academy. Dominic Solanke dumped the Blues to join Liverpool this summer on offer of
better conditions and more game time. Everton may be well placed to offer higher wages and another
 route to first team football in the future. Threat level: Low – the blue half of Merseyside are unlikely
to offer too much trouble to Chelsea.

Liverpool

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19:


 Dejan Lovren of Liverpool kicks a flare from the pitch as Sadio Mane of Liverpool scores their first
goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on
December 19, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) What could a
stronger and more competitive Everton do to Liverpool? A quick glance down the M62 suggests that
 the hype generated by having two, high-achieving sides in the same city could actually offer benefits
 to the Reds as well as their cross-town rivals.


Manchester’s football clubs are yet to justify the hype that was generated by the arrivals of Pep
Guardiola and Jose Mourinho in 2016 but the rise of Manchester City as a competitive foe to
Manchester United over the past decade has forced the spotlight of world football to focus upon both
teams like never before. An Everton in the ascendancy could provide Liverpool the city and
Liverpool the football club with an unintended commercial boom. Threat level: Low – if anything, a
 competitive Everton side could be good for Liverpool in the long run.

Manchester City

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15:


 Tom Davies of Everton lifts the ball over goalkeeper Claudio Bravo of Manchester City to score his
team's third goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester City at
Goodison Park on January 15, 2017 in Liverpool, England. City are in a similar position to Chelsea,
 and with their Eithad Campus now open and bringing in players from all around the world, the
relatively limited options available to graduates when it come to playing first team football in
Manchester could give Everton opportunities to pick off players in a rush to break into the Premier
League.


Threat level: Low – City are likely to improve under Guardiola but that may only make it harder for
youngsters to break into his starting XI, giving the Toffees a chance to snatch away a few bargains
from under their noses in the future.

Manchester United

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 04:


Jesse Lingard of Manchester United (R) attempts to get past Leighton Baines of Everton (L) during
the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on April 4, 2017
in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Despite winning the League Cup
and Europa League last season, United could only manage a sixth-placed finish in the Premier
League, and while they are expected to be more competitive in Mourinho’s second season at Old
Trafford, if they fail to raise their game next year, they would be in a similar boat to Arsenal. Yet
with Champions League football secured their fixture list should be more manageable, and players
 easier to attract in the transfer window.


 Problems could arise when they try to dispose of signings that didn’t work out or former academy
graduates they wish to sell on for a profit. A total of nine players have moved from United to Everton
 since 1995. Wayne Rooney’s critics hope that the Toffees can take the Englishman off the wage bill.
 Even if they do move for their former player, a more successful side will have better places to shop
than United’s discard pile. Threat level: Low – whether or not Rooney returns to Goodison Park,
United may not be able to use Everton as a safety net to recoup on signings for much longer.

Tottenham Hotspur

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 05:


Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur scores his and his sides second goal during the Premier League
 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at White Hart Lane on March 5, 2017 in London,
 England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) Pochettino has turned Tottenham into regular title
contenders. They have a young and settled side that play intense and attractive football and have
succeeded in establishing themselves as a top four side, even if they have so far failed to make the
most of their access to the Champions League.


Why should they worry about Everton? The gap in quality between the two sides shouldn’t cause
Spurs too many problems on the pitch, and unless they tumble out of Europe their position should
remain strong. It is in the transfer market where the Toffees could become an issue for the North
Londoners, who depend on finding players their richer rivals haven’t considered, who can produce
 big returns for a small fee.


That’s exactly the sort of talent Everton are looking to find for themselves, and with Moshiri so far
 showing himself to be happier to throw money at a problem than Daniel Levy and Joe Lewis, that
could give the Merseysiders an edge at the negotiation table. Threat level: Medium – not in a
competitive sense, but in the battle for smart signings that are good value for money, Everton may be
 able to offer a more obvious route in the first team to put Spurs under pressure when chasing targets
 going for well the market rate.

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