Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye believes there is enough quality within the squad to compete for the European places next term. The Merseyside outfit finished the recently concluded season in eight position and this saw them lose the final Europa League place to seventh-placed Burnley, who had a five-point advantage.

Speaking to Fox Sports Radio, Gueye stressed that the Toffees have ‘so much quality’ within the ranks and he is optimistic of the club finishing in the European places next season, he said: “I want to help the club fight for Europe next season. This club has been great to me since I have arrived. We have so much quality in the team. “Yes, last season was difficult, but we are very capable of again playing in Europe.”

Everton were widely expected to compete for a top-six spot last season after spending nearly £150m on recruits during the summer of 2017. However, things went pear-shaped from the off with a couple of poor results and this eventually witnessed the dismissal of Ronald Koeman from the head coach role.

Thereafter, Sam Allardyce managed to steady the ship to propel the club into the top half of the table but the Toffees hierarchy nevertheless decided to sack the Englishman after finding out his unpopularity among the club’s faithful. Everton are yet to make an announcement regarding their next head coach butnew director of football Marcel Brands is expected to be tasked with the job of appointing the new manager.

As per reports, Marco Silva is the prime candidate in the Toffees wishlist to succeed Allardyce but the deal could have some complications owing to their previous approach for the Portuguese. Back in November, the Toffees had made contact with Silva without the knowledge of Watford under whom he was employed and there are suggestions that the Hornets could make a complaint to the Premier League regarding an illegal enquiry.