Premier League: Barkley plus Lukaku equals top six for Everton

Romelu Lukaku will almost certainly be back at Everton in 2014/15

With Romelu Lukaku about to sign and Ross Barkley staying, Everton have all the tools for another top-six finish...

No matter how impressive Everton are in the Premier League, you will almost always find them at odds bigger than evens to finish in the top six the following campaign. The latest opportunity to back them at 2.486/4 to deliver in 2014/15 might just be the most attractive yet.

The Toffees have earned top-six billing in six of the last ten years, including each of the last two, with the 72 points that they collected in 2013/14 obliterating their prior Premier League best by a seven-point margin. It was their highest total since the 86-point haul that saw them last crowned top-flight champions in 1986/87.

One justifiable reason for punter scepticism is the suspicion that Man United and Tottenham will be far more competitive under their new managers, Louis van Gaal having won titles with every club he has ever coached and Mauricio Pochettino gaining many admirers with his work at Southampton.

The other less verifiable statement flung out as rationale for opposing Everton is that their squad won't be as strong this time as they were too reliant on loan recruits last term.

However, the two loanees who had the greatest impact of their four are both going to be back at Goodison Park for more, with Gareth Barry signing a three-year contract and Romelu Lukaku about to join permanently for a club record fee. Lacina Traore might return to add attacking depth too.

On top of that, they won't lose any of their prize assets either. Ross Barkley ignored links to the likes of Man City, Chelsea and Man United to apply biro to A4, committing himself to his boyhood side until 2018. Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman had already penned extensions.

Given that they have achieved top-six finishes in seasons following the exits of Marouane Fellaini (2013/14), Jack Rodwell (2012/13) and Wayne Rooney (2004/05), imagine the potential for progress after a summer in which they keep their key players together.

Recommended Bet: Back Everton to finish in the top six @ 2.486/4