Asmir Begovic has insisted Everton must challenge for Europe this season.
The goalkeeper, along with the rest of his team-mates, endured a tough first campaign at Goodison Park after signing 12 months ago under then manager Rafa Benitez. It took an impressive run of wins late on in the season, after Frank Lampard replaced Benitez, before Everton's top-flight status was confirmed.
New manager Lampard spent the early months of his reign plotting how he would guide the Blues, who at one point sat 18th in the league, away from the dropzone, with huge financial ramifications hanging over the club's head if it was to lose its top-flight status.
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But following the dramatic survival, Everton's number two goalkeeper believes the squad must have their sights set on the European places in 2022-23 as Lampard undertakes his first full season in charge.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Begovic said: "If I go back a year, I'm thinking I've got Everton on the phone and I'm thinking, 'what a club, everything, tradition...'. Now I've seen it, we have to challenge those top seven, eight... those European places, we have to be. It's too big of a club, it's too good of a squad.
"You know, we've got a good new manager, good facilities, we have everything in place to be successful. If a few things go our way and we have a good pre-season and get off to a good start, why couldn't we challenge for the top seven? I know it's crazy to say after the season we just had, but why couldn't we?"
Everton face a difficult start to their Premier League campaign as they face Chelsea and Liverpool in the opening four weeks of the season, before a trip to Arsenal and a visit of Manchester United follows shortly after.
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