Former Everton striker Francis Jeffers feels the the club's sale is holding the team back.
Jeffers also says he'd like to see manager Sean Dyche play a more attacking style.
“They've got to survive this season, it's quite simple: stay in the Premier League," he told Ladbrokes.
“The way the club is, with the new stadium coning, we cannot afford to drop out of the division. The most important thing right now, this season, is finishing above the relegation places.
“It's difficult to identify what needs to happen on the pitch in the summer at this moment in time, because there's no guarantee we'll be playing Premier League football. So much will depend on whether or not we're allowed to spend any money next season, and if we are, we certainly need much better players than the ones we've got now.
“I like Sean Dyche, by the way. I've got a lot of time for him, and I think that right now, when you look at where the club is at, he's probably the best man to keep us in the league.
“He doesn't mix his words and he's very, very honest. The big problem is that teams like Burnley are coming to Goodison and having more of the ball. That doesn't sit right with me.
“Right now, with the squad we've got, you've got to ask a couple of things: have we got the players capable of dictating games and controlling possession, or is Sean Dyche getting the best out of these players by doing what we do; by playing more direct, by getting the ball in the box. You know, he could say, with this squad, this is the best way to keep the club in the Premier League.
“Moving forward, with a long-term plan in mind, I just think the Everton fans want to see us get after teams like Burnley more... and I'm using Burnley because that's a game that's fresh in my mind. They don't want to see us sitting off teams like that, and allowing them to come to Goodison and dictate the play."
