New Everton manager Ronald Koeman has admitted that his side will not be at 100% in time for the new Premier League season.
The Toffees open their campaign at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday as they look to improve on a disappointing showing in the 2015-16 season.
However, the Dutchman is wary of the physical state of his players and does not believe that they are quite ready for the new term to start.
"Of course, it's always nice to start the season, but we are not at the level we need to be. Not in terms of players' physical states," he told reporters.
"Because I think we are, in terms of physical state, 70% of what we need to be. We are working hard and we will improve. We need to improve.
"I doubt that means we will start to play at 70%. But if I compare the numbers of the physical states of the players, it is 70%, and at Southampton it was 100%."
Koeman also expressed his desire to keep striker Romelu Lukaku at the club this summer.
Barney Corkhill
