According to reports from Mirror Football, Everton are ready to reject £50million bids for Chelsea and Manchester United target Romelu Lukaku during the summer transfer window.
The Belgium international looks set to enter the coming transfer window as one of the most wanted strikers in world football, having netted 25 times across all competitions this term – including 18 strikes in the Premier League – and made no secret of his desire to play Champions League football next season.
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He told reporters last week; “I am 23 years old now, it is time for me to compete with others at the absolute top of football. Things are going well at Everton right now… but, yes, I could be leaving the club in the summer. I have never played in the Champions League and I want to see where I stand when I play with the absolute top players at that level.”
Currently 13 points off a top four spot, Everton won’t be able to offer the 23-year-old striker that incentive next season. But nonetheless, the Toffees are ready to fend off interest in their star striker during the summer transfer window even if it means turning down bids worth £50million – which would constitute a new record transfer fee received at Goodison Park.
Mirror Football claim it will require transfer bids ‘well in excess’ of that sum to even get the Merseyside outfit around the negotiating table this summer – and they will still try their best to agree an improved contract with Lukaku before sanctioning any transfer.
That could put a huge dent in the transfer plans of Chelsea and Manchester United, with both clubs tipped to bid for the 6 foot 3 frontman in recent weeks alongside La Liga title chasers Atletico Madrid and Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.