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Jagielka raises importance of summer business

'We can challenge for top four again next season'

Phil Jagielka believes that Everton can challenge for the top four again next season but he says that how the club does in the transfer window this summer within the confines of its budget will be key.

"I've seen enough to suggest we could challenge for top four again next season," he says. "But then it's the same again, it's the whole question of how we do in the transfer market; in terms of keeping hold of our players and bringing in a few.

"We had a good summer transfer window last year with the loan signings and it's important the manager is just as active before the start of the season to keep the buzz going."

“We'd need to replace Gareth (Barry), Rom (Lukaku) and Gerard (Deulofeu) if they move on. We can't flourish otherwise. So now we need to unearth a few more gems or twist people's arms to get them to stay next season.

“It's difficult to bring in players of the same quality but that's the manager's job.

"[W]ith the right people coming in over the summer, and a bit more depth to the squad, it's an exciting time for us."

Jagielka is under no illusions about Everton's financial resources relative to those clubs they will be battling against to finish in the Champions League places next term but he believes there should be enough money this summer for Roberto Martinez to make some targeted acquisitions and possibly land one or two of this season's star loan players.

"The club is in a pretty healthy state but we know we can't go and spend £50/£60million every transfer window to be as strong, on paper at least, as some of the other teams in the league," the 31 year-old continues.

"We're not a club that has a bottomless pit of money. We've got a budget, and the fact of the matter is that if we'd tried to buy Rom, it may have been £15 or £20m. We may have been able to afford that."

Quotes sourced from Liverpool Echo via Sky Sports

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