Everton currently sit seventh in the Premier League table, but they are actually only three points behind fifth-place Manchester United as the business end of the campaign draws closer.

The Toffees have played two games more than both fifth-place Man United and sixth-place Arsenal, however, which suggests that it is going to take something special for the Merseyside outfit to finish in the top five in the 2016-17 campaign.

Everton centre-back Ashley Williams has insisted that “fifth place is a realistic aim” though, and the Welshman is confident that his team have the credentials needed to finish just outside the Champions League positions this term.

Williams told The Mirror:

“Yeah, I think fifth place is a realistic aim. That’s what we’re trying to do, obviously whether we achieve it or not depends on what the others do as well.

“But all we can do is look after our own games, and we’ve been doing that. We have to keep going – sometimes it’s important to just get the win and grind out a game.”

Everton have collected seven points from their three Premier League matches since losing at Liverpool at the start of April, although they have a tough run from now until the end of the season.

Indeed, after travelling to West Ham United on April 22, Ronald Koeman’s side will host Chelsea, whilst their final game of the 2016-17 campaign is away to Arsenal on May 21.

There has been a mixed reaction from Liverpool fans about the club’s new home kit.

The Merseyside outfit unveiled the new strip for the 2017-18 season, commemorating the club’s 125th anniversary.

For next season only, the new crest on the shirt will include the dates 1892 and 2017, as well as ‘125 Years’ below a gold Liver bird, which sits atop the letters ‘L.F.C.’

The New Balance-manufactured shirt is traditional red with white collar and trim and displays the club’s sponsor Standard Chartered on the front.

The crest has not been drastically altered, with the dates the only notable additions, but the main difference in the shirt itself is the collar.

The club tweeted images of Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino wearing the kit, while Simon Mignolet modelled the new green goalkeeper strip.

Liverpool celebrate turning 125 years old on June 3 this year, and while some fans are delighted with the new design, others would have preferred a different crest.

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Everton supporters have given mixed reactions to reports that the club are interested in signing West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini.

According to The Mirror, the Merseyside outfit are keeping tabs on the Argentine, who has scored eight goals and created two assists in 34 Premier League appearances this season.

The Toffees may struggle to convince the Hammers to sell given that they were forced to offload one of their star players Dimitri Payet in January.

West Ham have had an inconsistent season and have struggled to replicate the form that earned them a seventh-place finish in the 2015-16 campaign.

They will be determined to keep hold of their best players, but Everton are said to be tracking Lanzini as they bid to become top-four contenders next season.

It has also been mentioned that the Argentine could be a potential replacement for Ross Barkley, who is likely to be sold if he does not sign a new contract this summer.

After the rumours emerged, plenty of Toffees fans had their say on Twitter, with some happy about the link while others are not convinced that he is the right fit.

Leeds United have announced their first signing of the summer, but the supporters are not exactly bouncing off the ceiling.

Hadi Sacko has officially made his move to Elland Road permanent by signing a three-year contract.

Most of the club’s fans are rather underwhelmed considering that Sacko pretty much confirmed that he was staying put on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old winger joined the Championship club on loan last summer from Sporting Lisbon, and part of the deal included an option of a permanent contract.

The Yorkshire Evening Post claim that the club have paid between £1.5m and £2m to secure Sacko’s signature.

The winger, who made 42 appearances and scored two goals this season, is the first signing made under the new owner Andrea Radrizzani.

The transfer was completed despite the club not having a manager following the recent departure of Garry Monk.

Some fans seemed more concerned about the club’s managerial search than Sacko finalising his move, while others sarcastically expressed their shock at the transfer.

According to reports from The Northern Echo, Newcastle are eyeing a transfer swoop for Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva.

The South American veteran has reportedly been told to find employment elsewhere this summer after ten seasons at Anfield, registering 344 appearances across all competitions.

Owner Mike Ashley has previously ruled out signing players over 30 but could make an exception for the former Brazil international as Rafa Benitez looks to add vital experience to the base of his engine room ahead of Newcastle’s return to the Premier League.

Indeed, Leiva may not offer the Magpies much longevity at the age of 30 but he knows the top flight inside out and is famed for the simple-yet-effective service he offers in defensive midfield.

He’s also well acquainted with Rafa Benitez from their time together on Merseyside, but considering many Newcastle fans want their club to achieve more than simply survival next season, Leiva doesn’t represent the most inspiring of additions either.

So, Toon Army, would you back a summer transfer swoop for the £4million-rated enforcer? Let us know by voting below…

Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he ‘hopes’ former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Manchester United ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.

Ronaldo, 32, appears to be heading for the Los Blancos exit this summer following a high-profile tax dispute, and Man United have been strongly linked with their former superstar.

Ferdinand played alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009, with the pair helping the Red Devils land three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and the Champions League.

Ferdinand has since retired from professional football, but Ronaldo continues to break records for Real Madrid, with his 42 goals last season helping the Spanish giants retain the Champions League, in addition to snatching the La Liga title away from Barcelona.

Ferdinand told the Manchester Evening News:

“I hope [he’ll return]. I’m a Man United fan, and my kids love him, so I hope that he’ll be back. But will he leave Real Madrid? I don’t know.”

Ronaldo has scored 406 goals in 394 appearances for Real Madrid since joining the Madrid giants from Man United in the summer of 2009.

Meanwhile, the Portugal captain found the back of the net on 118 occasions during a six-season spell with Man United, where he remains a hero with the club’s supporters.

According to Przeglad Sportowy, Newcastle United have learned that they will have to pay £10m in order to sign Polish international Kamil Grosicki from Hull City this summer.

What’s the story?

Grosicki, 29, joined Hull from Rennes on the final day of the January transfer window, but the midfielder was unable to prevent the Tigers from being relegated to the Championship.

The attacker provided three assists in 15 Premier League appearances last term, however, and a number of impressive showings suggested that he is capable of performing in England’s top division.

Hull are said to be desperate to keep hold of Grosicki this summer, but according to a report from a Polish newspaper, Newcastle have made an approach for the attacker, with the Magpies learning that they will have to pay £10m to release the Pole from his contract at the KCOM Stadium.

It is understood that Grosicki is not due back at Hull for pre-season training until July 11 due to international commitments, but he is hopeful that a deal can be reached with Newcastle before that date rolls around.

Would it be a good deal for Newcastle?

With 50 caps for Poland, there is no question that Grosicki has been around the block.

He started his career with Polish outfit Pogon Szczecin in 2006, and has since represented Legia Warsaw, Sion, Jagiellonia, Sivasspor and Rennes in the professional game.

Grosicki, who is valued at £5.95m by transfermarkt.co.uk, was also extremely impressive for Poland at Euro 2016, providing two assists in the competition, and making an impression with his tricky feet in a wide position.

The attacker actually scored four times and provided three assists in 16 Ligue 1 appearances in the first half of last season, before Hull convinced him to make the move to the Premier League.

For a player at the age of 29, a price of £10m would have previously been deemed unreasonable. Grosicki has already proved his worth in the Premier League, however, and it seems only fair that Hull would look for a small profit on a player that is ready to jump ship following their relegation.

Newcastle have thus far been frustrated in their pursuit of a number of attacking targets this summer, but the arrival of Grosicki would certainly give them a new option entering the new campaign.

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Wayne Rooney has had his critics over the last year or so, with many questioning whether he is good enough to still be playing at the top level.

Well, Everton fans think they have the answer after watching the 31-year-old score a wonder goal in his first appearance for the Toffees since returning to the club.

Last week, Rooney signed for his boyhood club from Manchester United, where he spent the last 13 years.

The forward was hugely successful at Old Trafford, winning 12 trophies and becoming the club’s leading goalscorer.

In his final season, he struggled for game time under manager Jose Mourinho, which led to suggestions that his time as a professional is coming to an end.

Rooney may have something to say about that after Thursday’s game, though, as he scored in Everton’s 2-1 win over pre-season opponents Gor Mahia in Tanzania.

As expected, Everton fans were more than happy with his contribution, and some are feeling pretty smug that they have Rooney back in their ranks.

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Earlier in the summer, Liverpool somehow escaped transfer sanctions for their illegal tapping up of Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk and publicly ended their interest. Now things have taken a 180, and Jurgen Klopp seems to be back in for the Dutchman after Southampton have reportedly left him to train alone. Van Dijk did not travel with the Saints for their French preseason camp, but Mauricio Pellegrino will be keen to keep his captain and star player.

The Argentine shouldn’t be too worried though. His squad will be fine even if their star joins Liverpool’s ex-Saint contingent, because selling their key player is Southampton do and it always seems to work out .

Since the 2014-15 season, the Saints have had a lot of success replacing their stars and replacing van Dijk shouldn’t be too difficult either. In the summer of 2014, the club sold Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana and replaced them with Graziano Pellé, Toby Alderweireld, Ryan Bertrand and Sadio Mané. Not bad.

A year later, Nathaniel Clyne, Morgan Schneiderlin and Alderweireld were replaced by European Champion Cédric Soares, Oriol Romeu and van Dijk. Another set of pretty good replacements.

Nathan Redmond still has some time to live up to Mané’s ability and this summer former Lech Poznań centre-back Jan Bednarek has been brought in to replace former captain José Fonte. The club have somehow continued to do what managers across the globe wish they could do consistently in replacing their stars with more stars, whether they come from Chelsea or Red Bull Salzburg. Most clubs these days are determined to keep their star players no matter what, but over the years Southampton has continued to find the perfect player to fill the squad’s newest hole.

It remains to be seen if Mauricio Pellegrino can conjure up the same magic that Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman did before him, and that ability will likely decide his overall success at the south coast club. The Saints have become a Premier League mainstay and solid competitor since their return to the top flight in 2012. Their ability to take advantage of the transfer market has earned them Europa League football and a spot in the EFL Cup final, and their future success will be tied to how well they continue to replace key players.

Holding onto a player of van Dijk’s quality would be vital for most clubs, but not Southampton. They know how to replace a talent of that magnitude. They’ve done it before.

Aston Villa will look to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat to Cardiff City on Saturday when they visit Reading in their third Championship match of the season on Tuesday night.

Villa are one of the favourites to secure promotion to the Premier League this term but their campaign hasn’t got off to the best start with Steve Bruce’s men taking just one point from their opening two matches.

One of the bright sparks of their disappointing beginning to the season has been 19-year-old midfielder Callum O’Hare, who impressed in the 2-1 win against Colchester United in the Carabao Cup last week before he impressed as a substitute against the Bluebirds at the weekend.

However, the teenager played 85 minutes of his side’s Under-23 clash on Monday night which would suggest that he won’t be involved against the Royals on Tuesday.

Aston Villa supporters were quick to have their say on the news via social media, with some saying that “the mind boggles” that he won’t be involved when so many of their senior players are struggling.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…