Our landlord reckons the summer transfer window will be a huge one for Everton as Ronald Koeman looks to evolve a squad he inherited from Roberto Martinez into genuine competitors for a regular place in the Premier League’s top four.

Matters on the outward front may be slightly out of his control but Farhad Moshiri’s recent investment in the club should give the Dutch gaffer more than enough funds this summer to replace potential departures and further elevate his team towards potential Champions League qualification.

Everton punters in the Tavern aren’t too keen on the idea of their club taking off-cuts from those just above them in the Premier League table. But if there’s one team you should be trying to take players from, it’s unquestionably the reigning champions.

With that in mind, our landlord has outlined three fringe players that who’ve struggled for game-time at Chelsea this season that Koeman should seriously consider swooping for before the end of the summer transfer window.

Kurt Zouma

Sourcing a more youthful option at centre-back will surely be near the top of Ronald Koeman’s transfer agenda this summer, with Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams both the wrong side of 30, and he’ll be hard pressed to find another young centre-half with as much potential as Kurt Zouma.

A long-term injury has inevitably impacted his development and game-time since Antonio Conte took the Stamford Bridge hot seat last summer but previously, the France international’s performance levels verged upon phenomenal, combining an impressive reading of the game with simply dominant physicality.

Conte looks unlikely to break up his title-winning back three any time soon and it could even be argued Zouma doesn’t particularly suit the system anyway. So after making just three Premier League starts during 2016/17, this summer is undoubtedly the time to convince him his future is with another club that can guarantee him game-time.

Michy Batshuayi

Michy Batshuayi may have scored the goal that put Chelsea over the finish line in this season’s Premier League title race but it was a rare triumph amid a campaign of relative anonymity for the Belgium international, who made just one start in the Premier League.

The jury’s still out on how much faith Antonio Conte actually has in the former Marseille man and an abrupt departure from Stamford Bridge this summer is by no means out of the question.

But the 23-year-old comes with a preceding reputation from his time in France and has shown his ability in glimpses since moving to England too, netting five times in the top flight. With Romelu Lukaku reportedly looking to leave Goodison Park this summer, Batshuayi could be the ideal replacement for his countryman.

Cesc Fabregas

An audacious suggestion perhaps, considering Cesc Fabregas ended the season as one of Antonio Conte’s most important players. But he struggled for game-time at the beginning of the campaign and it remains to be seen if the Spain international will still be in his manager’s plans come the end of the summer transfer window.

Even at the age of 30, the midfielder is still one of the best playmakers in the Premier League, but the chances of him getting a move to another elite European club seem slim, so Everton might be the bracket of new employer he has to look at this summer.

No doubt, Fabregas would be an absolute coup for the Toffees – and the perfect replacement for Ross Barkley, whose contract situation could lead to a departure this summer.