The Merseyside club have been linked with the Burnley star recently, but Lukaku’s links to Manchester United and Chelsea won’t go away.
Burnley’s Andre Gray celebrates scoring their second goal
With Everton fans safe in the knowledge that their side will finish seventh in the Premier League this season no matter what happens in their final day fixture, attention turns to their summer transfer dealings – and the recent link to Andre Gray, as reports the Telegraph, will give them a lot to talk about.
The 25-year-old Burnley striker has had a very impressive debut season in the Premier League, especially when you consider he was playing non-league football as recently as 2014, and has scored nine league goals in 31 for the newly promoted side.
However, with a year left on his contract, the vultures are circling round Gray, and it seems as if it could be a straight shootout between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur for his signature, as reports the Telegraph, with both sides needing a very capable back-up striker to their main forward.
Here’s the thing though – unless Real Madrid come calling (and even then), Spurs are in no real danger of losing their star striker Harry Kane. Everton, on the other hand, are bracing themselves for Romelu Lukaku’s departure, with Manchester United and Chelsea both keen on the Belgium international, as reports the Daily Star.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their fourth goal
The 24-year-old has been outstanding for Everton again this season, becoming the club’s all time Premier League goalscorer in early March, and has scored 24 Premier League goals in 36 matches so far.
While Gray would represent very good business for Everton, if he’s signed as Lukaku’s replacement, there is no way that will work, as Gray hasn’t shown anywhere near enough that he can be a first choice striker for a Europe chasing club.
In an ideal world for Everton, the club will keep Lukaku and sign Gray anyway, but if Lukaku is to be sold, then Ronald Koeman should dip into the market for another striker – as well as the Burnley man.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their first goal with manager Ronald Koeman
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