Everton FC: Is it time to get stuck into the Toffees?

Roberto points the way forward

These are good times to be an Everton fan and the Merseysiders might just be a bit of value to continue on the upward curve under Roberto Martinez, says Joe Dyer...

What a few days for Everton fans. 

First Bosnian international Muhamed Besic signs up to a five year deal on Monday. 

Then, 24 hours later, future England star Ross Barkley does what Wayne Rooney failed to do 10 years previously and pledges his future to the club when the big boys were making eyes. 

And proving that good things come in threes, Wednesday saw Romelu Lukaku follow Barkley by shunning Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Wolfsburg as the Belgian striker chose Everton as his permanent location for the next few seasons.  

A club record fee paid for a 21-year-old who has scored 32 goals in two Premier League seasons; the retention of one of the most promising English midfielders of his generation; the capture of a hugely talented German-born midfielder named best foreign player in the division following his first season at Hungarian side Ferencvaros. What a statement of intent ahead of a big season for the Merseyside club. 

Critics may point to the lack of 'new' arrivals with Barkley, Lukaku and Gareth Barry - who signed up in early July - all playing for the club during last season's fifth-placed finish. 

But continuity can be an under-rated commodity in football and why wouldn't this young squad improve under the management of the effervescent Roberto Martinez?  

The club's head honcho certainly sounds enthusiastic ahead of the season, saying: "It excites me when I see the team I have."

The Betfair markets are not convinced though. Everton are the odd one out among the top-flight's elite clubs, always the longest price of the top teams. That makes sense when comparing the Merseyside club against the riches of Manchester City for instance, but less so when set against those of nearest rivals Tottenham.

Michael Lintorn has already flagged Everton's claims for a Top Six finish and I can only endorse his advice though the temptation could be to play bigger odds with the Toffees available to back at 7.613/2 for a Top Four finish. If nothing it could be a bet you can trade. 

A more canny approach might just be to get with Martinez's men in matches against the big clubs. The team enjoyed a string of good results against the big teams during the Spaniard's first year, doing the double over Manchester United, and enjoying wins against Arsenal and Chelsea last season, alongside notable draws with Manchester City, Liverpool and Spurs.

They certainly look a tempting bet to get the season started with a win at Leicester, an option that can currently be backed at 2.427/5.