Everton want to tie Romelu Lukaku down to a new five-year deal at Goodison Park, but talks have hit a stumbling block.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku
A report in the Telegraph has suggested that talks between Everton and Romelu Lukaku over a new contract at Goodison Park have stalled with the Toffees unwilling to put in a buyout clause of less than £90 million.
The Telegraph reports that Everton hope to agree a new five-year deal with the Belgian – as he prepares to head into the final two years of his current contract – but one of the finer details appears to be holding discussions up.
According to the Telegraph, Lukaku – who is attracting attention from Manchester United and former club Chelsea following another brilliant season for the Toffees – wants a clause included in the deal that would allow him to move on if an interested club offer between £60 million and £70 million.
However, the Telegraph adds that the Everton hierarchy only want such a clause included if the figure involved means that any deal would have to involve a world record fee as they fear that United and Chelsea would be happy to pay the fee that Lukaku is looking for in a new deal.
It is not surprising that Everton are so desperate to ensure that the 23-year-old does not move on for anything less than an astronomical amount in today’s climate.
Lukaku has scored 20 goals in 29 games for Everton in all competitions this term, and finding a replacement for him would surely cost the Merseyside outfit something like a world record amount as the forward also has plenty of time to get even better.
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