Chelsea target Romelu Lukaku will sign a new contract with Everton and will not leave the club this summer, according to his agent.
According to talkSPORT, Mino Raiola has insisted that Lukaku is not planning to leave Goodison Park this summer. Raiola – who also represents the likes of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – says that Lukaku is happy at Everton and will sign a new contract with the club.
“There are no problems right now between the player and the club. Talks are ongoing. He will sign.”
Lukaku has established himself as one of the top strikers in England since joining Everton from Chelsea in a club record £28 million fee. The Belgian international spent a spell on loan with West Bromwich Albion and then one year on loan with Everton before making the move permanent in 2014.
Including the season he spent on loan at Goodison Park, Lukaku has now scored a total of 78 goals in 158 appearances for the the Toffees despite only being 23 years of age. This season, he has scored 16 goals and picked up 4 assists in the English Premier League in just 23 appearances and is currently top of the goal scoring charts.
Despite playing in a side with less resources and lower profile players, Lukaku has still managed to score more goals than the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Diego Costa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Harry Kane.
He is also currently creating 1.48 chances, 1.3 key passes and completing 2.20 successful dribbles per 90 minutes which only goes to show that he has developed into a player that is capable of contributing more than just power and goals.
His form has seen him linked with moves to several top clubs across Europe, including the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester United. However, it is his former club Chelsea that have been linked with him heavily over the past few months.
Diego Costa’s future is up in the air at the end of the season with Antonio Conte himself admitting he does not know if the Spaniard will stay at Stamford Bridge. Costa was reportedly unsettled by an offer from China and has himself been quiet on the matter.
Reports emerged last month that Chelsea had identified Lukaku and his fellow Belgian international Christian Benteke as potential replacements for the Spaniard should he depart although it now looks like the Blues will have to settle for the latter if they really are interested in him.
Raiola seems confident that a deal will be reached soon and with Everton now backed by substantial finances, many expect the club to invest heavily and fight for a Champions League spot next season, something that is in line with Lukaku’s ambitions.
The new owner’s backing is probably the main reason Lukaku has decided to extend his stay with the Toffees and should Everton qualify for the Champions League next season, it is not unfathomable to see him stay at Goodison for the long haul.