Club legend Bob Latchford is confident that Everton striker Romelu Lukaku will remain at the club this summer.
Lukaku has been strongly linked with a move away from Goodison Park this summer, after turning down an offer of a new deal earlier this year.
The 24-year-old goalscorer still has two years left to run on his current deal, but his burning desire to fulfil his Champions League dream could see him turn his back on Everton.
The Belgian international scored 26 goals and supplied seven assists for the Toffees as they finished seventh in the Premier League last season, catching the eye of several of Europe’s elite sides.
However, goalscoring legend Latchford, who netted 106 goals from 236 appearances for the club, does not believe that Lukaku will be quitting the club in the coming months.
He could not though, say the same for Ross Barkley, who is also facing an uncertain future amid stalled contract negotiations.
He told the Liverpool Echo: “Romelu Lukaku is not going to down tools at all. He wants to improve and he wants to score goals.
“He’s got a reputation to uphold. It is a bit of a quandary but personally I think he may stay, at least another year. The biggest doubt is about Ross Barkley, he may just go.
“From what I’ve been told he’s got more chance of going this summer than Lukaku.”
Barkley is looking increasingly likely to depart Everton this summer, after refusing to commit his long-term future to the club.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman has handed the midfielder an ultimatum regarding his future, demanding he sign a new deal by the end of the season, or else he be sold.
However, the 23-year-old has yet to take Koeman up on his offer, and the Dutchman’s deadline has long since passed.
The Daily Mail claim that Everton have now made their mind up on Barkley’s future amid his refusal to give a definitive answer, and are willing to listen to offers for him this summer.