Marco Silva set out Everton’s ambition to improve on last season and believes the business done during the transfer window gives the Blues a strong platform to have a successful campaign.
Deadline-day arrival Alex Iwobi – who Silva described as “a strong, fast player with good intensity” – was Everton’s seventh signing of the summer after Jonas Lössl, Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Moise Kean and Djibril Sidibe.
Everton kick off the new Premier League term with a trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Silva’s team will be aiming to build on a strong finish to the 2018/19 season, which saw the Toffees accumulate 21 points from their final 11 top-flight matches.
That sequence included five matches against the division’s top six teams, with Everton winning three and drawing two of those contests.
The Blues secured an eighth-place finish in the Premier League table – and manager Silva emphasised his desire to improve on this position and “achieve something special” in the cup competitions.
“Our target is to do better than we did last season – there is no doubts about that,” said Silva, who revealed Delph will miss the opening-day clash at Selhurst Park with a thigh injury.
“I have been here for one year now and I know better the Club, our players.
“Everything is more clear for us. First, we have the game against Crystal Palace, which will be tough.
“But we will go there with full motivation and focus. We go there to play and to win – it is always our goal.
“Our target is to do better not just in the Premier League this season but in both cups.
“We will do our best to do something special in the FA Cup and League Cup - and in the Premier League."
Silva is confident Everton are well-positioned to achieve these goals having brought in seven international footballers in the transfer window.
The Blues have bolstered their midfield ranks with the signings of Gomes, Delph and Gbamin.
Explosive teenage striker Kean has been prised from Juventus, while World Cup winning France right-back Sidibe has completed a season-long loan – with an option to buy – from Ligue 1 side Monaco.
Goalkeeper Lossl has also been acquired to provide competition for Jordan Pickford and Maarten Stekelenburg, while skilful winger Iwobi joined Everton from Arsenal in a deadline-beating move on Thursday evening.
“When you plan the window, our target is always to improve the squad and provide better solutions,” Silva said.
“In this moment our squad is deeper than last season. I am happy with what we have done.
“Alex [Iwobi] is a quality player. We had our targets – and he was one of our main targets.
“He can play wide and behind the striker, he gives us different solutions.
“He is a strong player, a fast player, and he can provide good intensity.
“He comes to our club to improve our squad and it is really important for me.”
