Romelu Lukaku has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United after scoring 25 Premier League goals for Everton.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their second goal
Another hat-trick for Harry Kane and a second consecutive Golden Boot award stole many of the headlines on the final day of the Premier League season, but Romelu Lukaku still deserves a special mention.
Lukaku netted Everton’s only goal in a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal from the penalty spot, putting him second behind Kane on that scoring list with 25 league strikes in 2016/17.
The future of the Belgian has been debated for some time, with the Metro currently reporting that Chelsea and Manchester United lead the race for his signature this summer in a deal worth £70m.
Having previously struggled to assert himself at Stamford Bridge there was an argument that perhaps Lukaku was not good enough for the “elite” clubs, but his record this term should have ended any of those doubts.
In a Toffees team where he was often the only source of attacking intent with Yannick Bolasie injured and Ross Barkley’s form inconsistent, the Belgium international became the first Everton player to score more than 20 goals in a Premier League campaign and the first overall since Gary Lineker in 1985/86.
Gary Lineker – Everton
Despite having just turned 24-years-old, Lukaku now has 85 Premier League goals and could realistically become the fourth youngest player to reach 100 – ahead of Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry who were 25 and 26 respectively.
In a Blues team that scored 23 more than the Toffees, Diego Costa scored five less than Lukaku. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored eight less at a worse goal-per-minute ratio for United.
It may disappoint Everton fans, but the forward more than deserves another chance at Europe’s top table.
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