Dini: “Expect Everton in the Champions League next season”

Everton winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has made a statement of intent ahead of the following campaign, saying that Everton have as good a chance as anyone of getting into the Champions League.

Speaking to the Daily Post, the Russian said, “Next year we are ready to be conquering the top four. And why not?

“Everybody saw that many favourites have yielded to us by the end of the season. So expect Everton in the Champions League next year.”

The 25-year-old, who signed for the Blues for a fee of around £10 million last summer, missed out on the World Cup with his native Russia and will therefore get a rest before next season, having played continuously from January 2009 to May 2010.