Lukaku 'not ready' to commit to new Blues deal

I fear the club will need to go forwards without Rom in the summer...

Of course we will slag off the player, the club, the manager and probably each other for the rest of the day to help our fears and anxieties but all that effort will probably be based on a naff story as there can be hundreds of reasons the contract isn't signed yet.

1) Win most of your home games.
2) Win plenty of away games.

We are doing part 1 already now.

Part 2: A key part of this is the role of our talismanic striker. How many times have we been undone at Goodison Park over the years by the brilliance of the opposition's talismanic striker, especially late in games?

I don't need to recall the names and revisit the pains, but Lukaku when firing on all cylinders can certainly be our talismanic away game hero more in the future, as he is realising his potential. Chances abound in the coming weeks of the season.

Prove you are worth the money Rom by doing it when we play away at the current top 4. We will then be in the elite ourselves. It is a team game of course, but when Rom steps up to the plate, it lifts the whole team.

The agent's comments are far more telling and I really can't see Rom sitting out the last two years with us on his current 'paltry' wage as no one is going to give us £80 million for him. Bar a Chinese side, that is.

I would guess that he has seen the Play Sports video and is reporting on that.

We don't know for certain of course whether he said what is claimed but would you be surprised? Lukaku has previous with this and he holds all the cards. I don't blame him; I just hope he does commit to one more year now that we are moving in the right direction again.

James (5), the problem with the £80m reference is that once he gets inside the last 2 years of his deal, that figure will start to plummet. We'd still get a big fee for him but it would no longer be prohibitive.

Hope this is just some silly rumour. I do think though he will move on during the summer window. I just hope Ross doesn't join him. But I'll not jump the gun and fear the worst. :)

The club should seize the initiative and start planning immediately for a replacement.

For a man said to have a direct line to the top, Jim White must have made more duff declarations than the Millerites by this point.

Maybe they will announce this with the Dock plans at same time.

Or maybe he is off to Liverpool, Koeman is off to Catalonia,, we are moving to Greasby and to reassure us all we are bringing back golden boy Niasse?

As Lyndon says, he'll have 2 years left on his contract in the summer so I reckon it would take around £60M to get him.

Chelsea for me, being the most likely destination as a replacement for China-bound Costa, because I just can't see him going to Man Utd to play second fiddle to Zlatan.

Let's face it, it's only a matter if time before he goes to a Champions League club and I predict it will probably be in the summer. Irony is I didn't think his performances in the past warranted the talk, but under Koeman he has improved a lot.

Given Koeman's time at Southampton (in his first season, they sold Shaw, Lallana, Chambers and Clyne among others), I'm happy that we have a manager and recruiting staff who could deal with the loss of Lukaku if it happens.

'Lukaku to Chelsea' days straight ahead.

I'm just going to enjoy him while we have him.

Is he a Judas?

Could it bode well for our resurrection?

I have my doubts.

"He [Collymore] added: “Seventh is the summit of Everton's ambitions for the next two seasons. “That means that as happy as Rom is now, his agent may be getting antsy 12/18 months from now.

“At that stage Spurs can sell a new stadium, 60 thousand punters, increased revenue, possible regular Champions League football while Everton stay at Goodison and maybe struggle to break an increasingly high glass ceiling.

“Don't get me wrong Evertonians, I'm not trying to sell your player, but look down the line two years, unless the Toffees win trophies which, with the competition above them looks unlikely, Everton could command big money for Lukaku.

“The old-fashioned strike partnership is out of fashion currently, but I'm licking my lips at the thought of these two fine young strikers playing together.”

I keep getting asked why is Goodison not as noisy as it can be, it's down to this type of story cropping up at every turn, I can't remember so much speculation about an individual Everton player and therefore it's very difficult for Evertonians to get behind a player who has never appeared to settle regardless of his prowess shown in front of goal. Most Evertonians want to love Rom but it is difficult when he always seems to be looking to move on to 'bigger and better' things. But Spurs, Stan... are you sure, mate?

I imagine he'll test the water, there'll be more interest than last year but not enough to warrant putting in a bid that suits us. We'll sign some more players, he'll sign on the dotted line and around we go again.

If I were Rom, playing for a club I didn't support, there's absolutely no way I'd be signing a new deal. Champions League and serious coin are only a year away for him.

Just saw somewhere on the web that Schneiderlin is on £120k! If true, £140k really doesn't sound attractive at all. I would ask for £180k with Sneiderlin's £120k as benchmark.

But I agree with Liam (#13) if Costa goes to China then Lukaku's Chelsea bound. He's made no secret how much he loves the club, and of course unless there's a dramatic collapse it's nailed on they'll be in the Champions League almost certainly as Champions.

As long as we spend the money wisely, it'll be a good piece of business, even though I'd hate to lose him.

Better and more loyal players have left us in the past for better or worse. I don't think he will go down as one Everton's footballing heroes – nor should he.

Kane is in a top team that constantly challenging for top four positions. Lukaku has been playing in a inconsistent team. Kane can't head a ball, Lukaku can, Kane can't run past players, Lukaku can.

Kane doesn't have the goals-to-chances ratio that Lukaku has. And Rom is a lot more talented. My opinion. :)

Last season, it was 500 chances created by spurs to 360 for Everton.

I obviously think Lukaku's a great player and would love to keep him with Everton for many years to come, but loyalty is a thing of the past in football (on both sides), so if he goes, he goes.

I don't agree with Collymore's (or anyone else's) remarks about 7th being our pinnacle either. Historically that makes no sense – despite two successive 11th place finishes under Martinez, in the 10 years before that we'd finished 4th once, 5th three times, 6th twice and 7th twice (plus one other 11th). Obviously some sides have got stronger and weaker over that time, but isn't that always the case?

More to the point, our current form is up with pretty much anyone in the league (bar Chelsea) and there are obvious opportunities for improvement in the summer with a bit of transfer cash in the pot.

I love TW and the opinions here. Being encouraged, regularly and wisely to reconsider our views and opinions is entirely healthy.

Romelu, for me, is a conundrum but a modern day football star (and a star is what he is).

Tommy Lawton?
Roy Vernon?
Bob Latchford?

No viable comparison these days. Not possible. Romelu is a man from an entirely different age, culture and working in an environment which encourages "Self Above Other", an environment which he has not created but within which he exists.

Oddly, we have bought our heroes and we have also sold them. We will buy more and we shall sell them.

Loyalty is a matter for fans alone. Make more noise at the match... It might just help.

We need to learn from Tottenham's reluctant sale of Gareth Bale and put a non-negotiable cash price on his head. He's got two years left on his contract so we can be brave this summer and demand a big fee. It's next season we might get a bit twitchy if he still hasn't signed.

If we get our hands on £70m then I'm confident between Koeman and Walsh that we could replace the goals. Even if we had to replace them across 3 players.

He's still under contract so the mass hysteria is a distraction. EFC is bigger than any one player. Too much at stake to be distracted by the media circus. Saturday's game now.

I pity Rom if he leaves, as with Ross, Ronald Koeman is proving to be a great coach for them both and others. Rom is adding more to his game now under Koeman, running from outside the box, thanks to Koeman's coaching, instead of the idle player who wants the ball on a plate.

Mark my words, Rom, you're improving under Koeman; other billionaire clubs expect a finished article, which you are not. Your choice, Rom.

Tottenham have a new stadium construction under way and Chelsea have just received planning permission for a 60,000 seat stadium to replace Stamford Bridge. Time is of the essence and Moshiri has been on record previously stating that he is only too aware that the clock is ticking.

I'm hoping that the plans for Bramley-Moore Dock will be the catalyst for renewed impetus around the Club and will persuade Koeman, Lukaku and Barkley that their future lies with Everton.

We should set a deadline on the new deal and if he refuses to sign then plan on the assumption we will sell him. He will have given us 4 years and you cant ask for more than that these days. My definite preference though would be go sell him abroad; for example, PSG.

Whilst pleasantly surprised to see us actually linked to the former recently, I was left with a revolting '20 minutes after wolfing a rotten kebab' feeling in my stomach to read that the red shite are amongst those looking to bag the latter.

It was bad enough when it looked like he was on the brink of signing for West Ham last year but, if he joins them, I'll be fucking gutted. I think he's a fantastic player, perfect for the Premier League and the fact they're talking about him going for just over £30m (although £50m has also been quoted in some places and Arsenal reportedly had a £35m bid turned down for him not so long ago) makes a mockery of the £80m+ price tag supposedly attached to Lukaku.

There are numerous players out there, beyond the confines of the Premier League, who represent better value and, for that reason alone, I can't see that anything will have changed since last summer when a few 'big clubs' were rumoured to be having a sniff, but none were actually prepared to put their hand in their bulging arse pocket and pay what it would take to bag him.

Never. Never in a million years. I'd rather have a "Blankety Blank Chequebook and Pen"!

If he decides to go, then so be it; we are not a one-man team and will have quite a stash to try and find a replacement. Relax... we can't lose.

Personally I don't blame the lad for wanting every penny he can get. We all know how an injury to any young player can shorten the career.

Yes, greed is a factor especially from the agent's point of view as well as the player but loyalty is a thing of the past were employers are concerned. Everton should get this resolved real quickly so that they have time to replace him adequately if he goes.

Have just read my last Rom contract related article. He is not bigger than the club.

If Rom intends to stay according to his agent it's a simple matter of him signing or sorting out whatever the 0.000001% disagreement is.

I would give him 2 weeks to sign or withdraw the offer. This is the sort of situation which unsettles the squad so start lining up his replacement now.

He has no loyalty to us. He has no affinity with the fans. He belongs at Chelsea because that's where his heart is, so let him go at a price which enables us to get an adequate replacement who wants to be here.

I don't have a problem with players if they keep up their standards on the pitch and go on megabucks transfers to Champions League clubs where they eventually get injured, fall out of favour and end up warming the bench. What we don't need is a long drawn out sulk.

Just keep banging them in for fun this year Rom and see where it gets us.

If anyone is surprised that he would be taking his time in deciding what his best move is, just look at the most recent match against Spurs where we set out in a similar fashion as West Brom did to us, while he had to watch a Spurs team launch attack after attack.

If I was him, I'd want to play in a team that always goes out to win, with attacking support that would help me thrive.

Nothing to see here.

If we are crap, nobody wants our manager, coaches, backroom staff, or players.

When we even start to begin to look tasty? The lazy poisonous media will try to do us down!

Because our name is... EVERTON.

WE do not choose...

Spurs have the same number of points from the same number of games in second place and Everton have outscored the rampant North Londoners despite losing at the Lane. Chelsea and Man City could match the 20 points tally if they were to win their games in hand.

Pity that Rom can't see that Everton are doing the business on the park, ably assisted by Rom himself – but I suppose by the end of April the club will have revertrd to its usual way of failing to beat the big boys on their turf and Rom will have every right to feel he should move on.

Fast forward 12 or 13 years later and he can walk back into EFC and be welcomed with open arms. I didn't blame Rooney either; Lukaku has done more for us than Rooney ever has. Good Luck to him!

Yes, he could still leave even if he signs a new contract... but signing it makes it slightly less likely… at least this summer.

The reason why it makes a difference if he stays or goes is because he's a proven goalscorer and if he leaves he will take some replacing. Name the last Everton striker to score so consistently?

£40 million or £80 million would make a big difference in any budget available to replace him. Sure it's not our money but it's our club getting the money (or not).

Having been excommunicated from this site for six months once, I really need to brush up on my other religion or could find myself in real trouble soon.

Martinez was given £10 million to go away just to stop the damage he created. He fooled most of us in his first season (me included). So, when talking about a player, you mention a manager who would struggle to organise a piss-up in a brewery, let alone a football team.

Rom is an excellent finisher when he puts the work in but he is far from a complete player. His goal tally might be a bit inflated because he's a goal hog and wherever he has played, he had the entire team playing solely for him because who else can score?

He might not find it quite so easy if he were to ever play in a great team where more fluidity would be expected from every player. Good luck to him either way, though.

It's no secret Conte wanted him last summer and Rom was up for going only Koeman talked him into staying. If and when Chelsea win the league, I think they will come again for a 23-year-old proven Premier League goal machine!! Why wouldn't they?

The only way I can see him staying is if by somehow we finish in the top four or he agrees another year before to have a good crack with Koeman at qualifying but, even if he signs his new deal, I don't think it would keep him with us for longer than one season!!

Proven goalscorers are a rare commodity. Lukaku is supposedly reported as saying he wants to play in the Champions League, so if, in say 2 or 3 years time, we are not in the champions league, then we are not going to get a proven goalscorer to replace him, as they all want to play in the Champions League.

Another thing is price for a new striker. As soon as any club see its Everton after their striker, an extra £10M will be added to the selling clubs valuation.

Look what happened when the RS sold Torres. They went and bought Andy Carroll for £35M. No way was he worth that kind of money, but Newcastle knew the RS had the money, so added a few million to the price. He didn't do much when he was there either, apart from score a winning semi-final goal against us.

So to all those saying we will replace Rom, we won't, so forget it. We might as well put the money received for him to building one side of the new stadium.

Of course, if it's more money, and lots of it, Rom is after, then there shouldn't be a problem.

I wish Lukaku's agent would shut the feck up but that's not likely to happen and IF Lukaku has said what he's reported to, then he's not being professional. But whatever Raiola or Lukaku say, I feel sure our Club will be (have probably already been) drawing up plans for a replacement.

My view is that there is a massive difference in how our club behaves now compared to the last major shareholder's form when in charge. We now have someone in charge who has money and is prepared to spend it (within the daft and unfair limits that Uefa have set). We also have a management team who will not allow one player to upset their plans, whoever that player is.

Hopefully, Lukaku will stay and be part of the rebuilding of Everton Football Club; but if he's not going to, we part company with him, at a time of our choosing, wish him good luck then carry on with becoming one of the premier teams in the country.

I don't think Mr Moshiri and Mr Koeman will allow any player to disrupt the plans for our club.

If, at the end of the day, someone – anyone – doesn't want to play for us, well, as far as I'm concerned, thank you and goodbye. We move on.

With Kane likely to be out for a few weeks it gives Lukaku the chance to win the golden boot. Now I cant think of too many who have won this and still play for a team outside the Champions League spots.

Then, no doubt when he reads that Sanchez and Ozil want £290,000 per week, why shouldn't he be looking for the same if not more. As we all know strikers usually earn more than midfield players.

Now he knows that Everton couldn't afford anything like that sort of money, so in his position wouldnt we all be tempted to look elsewhere? Also, let's not forget, unlike us, he isn't an Evertonian – this is just his place of work, till someone offers a better deal.

Rom the fans will be there to cheer you on until you're gone; then, you wont matter. That's always the way. That's football.

Given that Oscar went to China for £60 million in January and Bale went for 㿼 million to Madrid, I think we should stick a price of 𧴜 Million on him.

Interestingly in the table produced last week (before the weekends games) of all teams positions without their top scorers goals, we were placed in 4th, 6 points better off at that point!

https://twitter.com/empireofthekop/status/839494773912240128

If he goes as others have said then we'll move on because that's football.

Kane is class on the grass whereas Lukaku is class where playing the lower-end Premier League crass.

In short, yes.

Well... if I was him I would.

I mean if I was him, I'd have no allegiance to Everton (or WBA or Chelsea or...) and just be looking at what clubs could give me the most success and pay me the most.

If I was in his position, that would be different - me in his position, I'd happily sign a 7 year deal at £140,000 a week because I love Everton and would play for the honour (and the £50,960,000 wages).

Difficult/annoying/frustrating as it might be, we all need to look at any player dealings from their position rather than ours (if Rooney moving didn't teach you anything, you'll never learn).

And we need to keep in mind that 999 times out of a thousand, there's an agent behind the player keeping up a constant "You can do better, you can do better, you can do better."

I'd certainly be sorry to see Lukaku (or rather Lukaku's goals) go but (philosophical gem alert!) players come and players go and when they go, you replace them and hope for the best.

Up the Toffees! (Particularly those prepared to sign new improved contracts.)

Everton are like the half-way house as, once Barkley improves sufficiently, he'll leave Everton.

He'll sign the contract after the summer transfer window has been and gone and he's still at Everton due to no Champions League clubs coming in for him, just like last summer.

Teams adjust to losses of players on a regular basis.

Our team would adjust and who knows we might play better....or not.

Sorry, I was being literal with your analogy. You were alluding to Lukaku as the analogous girlfriend, to be fair.

No.

Sick I know but, show him the money Farhad/BPB!!

Lukaku is going through the purpleest of purple patches, he's been involved in nearly every goal.

Where's the backup if he gets injured, loses form, or fucks off? What's Plan B?

No problem. Nearly every Premier League club is in the same boat if they lose their top scorers goals.

Look positively; negative thoughts in the cupboard.

In reality, there's only maybe 7-8 teams who realistically can afford him in Europe, and if they do not need a striker, he's better off staying with us. The only other factor that comes into play is the Chinese money, but he knows that route is career-ending for a 23-year-old.

Unfortunately, I do see a transfer merry-go-round this summer with Griezmann being linked with Man Utd. This would probably mean a return of Costa to Athletico and Chelsea needing a replacement.

This is just fantasy nonsense. These are all media reports, nothing more, nothing less. The media who exist on lies, all kinds of invented shite, phone hacking, etc.

But, no matter how much their shit is revealed as shit, they always manage to manipulate the gullible. Get a grip folks!

How about a cheeky pay-as-you-play deal for Sturridge and a punt on Andy Carroll as we are more direct at the moment?

In the end, he will do what he feels is right for him. I'd love to keep him, of course. Que sera, sera.

Well, if it's all media shit, then why hasn't he signed a contract that will increase his money by £40,000 per week? And he could just keep his mouth shut and sign the contract, then he kills the stories.

Hopefully Lukaku will sign a new contract with us because of obviously more money for himself but also because he has been sold a vision of where the club wants to go over the next few years.

However, regardless of whether he signs up or not, those in power at Everton should already have plans in place to either bring in a striker to compete with or replace him. I'd love to see Lukaku sign up but he's not bigger than the club, we need to be signing a quality striker whether he signs or not. Let's do this on our terms not his.

Buy in a quality striker and show Lukaku our intent for the future with or without him. C'mon, Big Rom – get it signed! We love you really!

Why do I say that? Because in my experience most of what is reported by the media is inaccurate, and in those cases where I've known a lot about a situation, the media reporting has been wildly inaccurate.

In other words, when I see reports like the ones about Lukaku, I'm sceptical as to their accuracy. I don't need to 'prove' that the reports are wrong in order to be sceptical; experience is sufficient for that.

It doesn't work that way. I don't expect any loyalty from Rom, even if I hope he stays. I do expect him to perform while he's wearing our shirt. Which to be fair, he is.

Perhaps the club is waiting till the summer. Our one signing of the transfer window. Only Everton could drag it out like a soap opera. Just get it done or sell him in the summer. Bored with it now!

Is there a financial problem at Goodison that we are all ignorant of? I could understand it during the lean years when we had to sell talent to survive... but now, with Moshiri's financial muscle to act as guarantor, we shouldn't have an issue with keeping our best players – unless they don't want to stay of course.

I, like many, have already renewed for next season and I won't be a happy bunny if we start the campaign without one or all of those three players.

No way we can offer him Champions League football next season if that is what he craves for.

Rumours he would welcome a move to join his buddy Pogba.

Many of us want Rom to stay and many couldn't care less if he went but one thing for sure is that proven goalscorers like him and at his age don't grow on trees and he knows it.

Just look at the many other supposed goalscorers who signed for big fees with big clubs over the last five years who fell flat on their faces such as Remy, Bony, and Ings (remember him?)

Everton’s bid to finalise a new contract for Romelu Lukaku has been thrown into doubt by the club’s refusal to include any buy-out clause worth under £90million with Chelsea and Manchester United watching the situation.

Lukaku Clause

We all know Rom will depart for what he sees as a better team. He has no attachment to the club and will go once an offer comes in which he fancies.

Ross hasn't yet been offered a contract so they try to stir up a story by linking him with Spurs.

We have shown interest in Sigurdson in the recent past so some papers run that old chestnut again to fill gaps on the football page.

Barry is no longer a regular starter so they link him with Villa where it just so happens he started his career.

Likewise Wayne being linked back to us. All just speculation generated by writers who are under pressure to find a story or if they can't then create one which might have some logic.

The financial muscle is there but I suspect Moshiri is sorting the finance for the stadium whilst there is no opportunity to buy players.

My guess is that it worked and Rom will be off to the Premier League Champions in the summer. At least that is what my cynical mind is telling me right now.

He knows signing a new contract with us will price him out of a move anywhere in the world for another 3 or 4 years.

He gets a pay rise for a couple of months we get a player who's signed up and probably gets to go for a set price or if a particular club comes in for him.

That's him controlling his destiny, the club gets a nice wedge in return for giving the platform for him to perform when no one decent would touch him with a bargepole.

Personally, I think he will be here in August, whatever his record for us he isn't and won't be the top, top player at a massive club.

He is much better as a big fish in a small pond. Not sure he could handle being one of a firmament at Chelsea or PSG for instance.

Bottom line: I don't care, we get money for him, we replace him. You would hope, since it's ALWAYS a thing, then the club have replacements in mind already.

To hear some people (and the press), they seem to think we would be starting with 10 men if Lukaku left! Teams score goals – it's not all down to the strikers.

From memory, the great '80s sides won titles with team work and no superstars.

Bye Bye, Rom.

Methinks not! So why are there so many T Webbers critical of some of the excellent squad we have now and will add as long as they do their jobs!

Rumour or not, it doesn't fail to give me nausea at the thought of losing him.

He's a good player and I really hope we keep him, but what a total dickhead.

He sent in a cross at the weekend, it flew across their goalkeeper, over head-height, absolutely nowhere near the onrushing midfielders entering the 18-yard box, and then throws his arms up in disgust at his team mates.

That goal against Sunderland was a joke too. I don't care if he bungled it into the back of the net. The right decision was to pass to Enner Valencia who was as wide open as it's possible to be on a football pitch.

I suppose you put up with it while he's scoring goals. It's very hard to like him though.

If Rom goes then maybe we will start spreading the goals around the team. Maybe we will find a gem and this gem will be as deadly if not better than Rom.

We said this about Lineker and we said this about Rooney. We ended up being a better team without either. I would like Rom to stay but if he doesn't it won't be a disaster either.

Huge loss when he goes but give me Ross over him any day.

Basically he wants a new contract at a much higher salary but wants to pitch an exit clause low enough to be affordable to his choice of clubs.

Tell him to fuck himself.

I hope we're looking for other options just in case. I'm sure we are... Concentrate on sorting out a contract for Ross; leave Rom to stew.

I never cared if he stayed or left, but now I do a little. We will not replace his goals. The rest of the our squad just don't score enough.

The agents and media play us like puppets and we claim to be smart.

Sadly we are masters of our own gullibility, Gordon.

So yes the sun will rise and Everton will carry on with or without big Rom. All the best, big fella.

He hasn't said he won't sign – he just wants to wait until the summer to see if the club has ambition. If they sign quality players, he will re-sign. If they don't, he won't and will use his two remaining years to put pressure on the club to sell...

Over to you, Moshiri and Walsh.

Daft as it sounds, This would fit in with the agent's remarks about 99.9999% etc and the fact that Lukaku was apparently laughing as he made the comments!

I don't think Mino Raiola would have said what he said if there was any serious doubt about it proceeding, as he'd end up looking a real (and unreliable) prat!

He'd be an idiot not to sign, secure his future earnings, and have the release clause inserted to give himself some power over his destiny. The number attached to the clause is the obvious problem but a compromise is bound to be reached as it suits both parties.

He was banging his feet on the deck and stating loudly 'Dolphins drive these fuckin' buses yer know, fuckin' dolphins..honest!'

Why did I give you the preamble?

Because I thought I'd help you with a bit of context rather than just say 'I've heard Dolphins drive buses.'

Nicholas # 135 - 'I've heard, that Everton want a buy-out clause in the new contract, set at 90 million pounds; whereas Lukaku wants it at 90 million EUROS!'

Any chance of a hint?

A reliable source, an insider, a feller in the pub or maybe a man who thinks dolphins drive buses?

Personally I'd ban any 'I've heard' post that provides no context.

(Obviously if Moshiri told you and said 'don't tell no one' I'd understand but give us a bleedin' clue!)

They'll be equivalent soon if the pound continues to nosedive.

Nicholas, I doubt Raiola gives a toss what anyone thinks about him.

Arsenal/Arsene won't pay more than what they value the player at so we just tell them £50m and they'll run away.

Everything you say is correct. However it's becoming a bit much that top players now have an automatic expectation to be worth multiple tens of millions at the end of their careers. Where does it end?

The way the pound is going on the money markets, it won't be too long before €90 million is worth exactly £90 million.

Obviously a buy-out clause is being driven by Lukaku's agent. Once a long-term contract is signed, the balance of power switches back to the club and a buy-out clause is the only legitimate bargaining chip a player and his agent can use to force a move. Given the money paid for an average midfielder like Pogba, it seems to me £90m is reasonable for a proven top quality striker aged 23. Anything less would be theft.

If it is true we have offered £140k per week and if his current deal is worth £70k, each month's delay is costing Romelu over £280k. Another way of looking at it of course is the delay is saving the club the same sum.

As others have said, a serious injury could happen in the next game he plays so the delay is not risk-free from the player's point of view.

We don't need to sell these days, so we've got a strong position, and Lukaku is a top striker, so he's also got a strong position. Hence the prolonged nature and fine tuning of any negotiations. That's if all the shit is true.

1) Yes.

2) No.

Strikers like Lukaku are few and far between. We must keep him and make him our highest earner with a £70-80 million release clause. We need to build around him, Barkley and Davies, not sell then.

If we do sell, we sell abroad – not to Man Utd, Chelsea or any of our direct rivals. We sold Lescott and Arteta and were worse off for it.

It's win-win for agent and player. The agent earns two huge wedges in quick succession, and his 'client' retains the moral high ground because he signed the new contract in good faith and has no way of controlling who exercise the buy out.

One thing is for sure. If a player gets so exercised about the size of a buy out clause, before he has even signed a new contract, with his existing employer, he is definitely looking at the next contract, and not the one currently on the table.

What a nauseous world it can be sometimes!

Remember John Hurst? One of the unsung heroes of the 60's.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BVtXdK2afdI

Call me old-fashioned if you like but there is something terribly wrong somewhere.

It was only a matter of time before he left, was it not. Our manager said he would need to go to a 'bigger' club.

That takes the biscuit for the clanger of the year in my book, you couldn't make it up! Koeman will be off like a shot also if Arsenal or Barcelona come calling, that's pro football nowadays.

Some way we need to get into the top 4 in the near future, or we won't retain the likes of Lukaku or sign players of the same standard. The 'spoilt boys' want their Champions League football!

Its a vicious circle though: if the players are not good enough, no top 4.

The club, in order to move forward and up to challenge for the title (screw a top four target as good enough), must add to Rom's goals, not replace them. Rom might just be looking for the team to finally walk the walk.

I wonder about those complaining about the press talking about our players. Every game on TW, someone grouses about whether Everton will get ignored by "insert radio or television show or host here."

We complain about Everton getting ignored. We now complain about the same shows and pundits discussing Everton players as targets for other teams wanting to take them from us. We cannot have it both ways.

I say, bring on the rumours and press with the understanding that it will only drive the value of the players up and the name of Everton forward. It is time, Everton started to embrace the attention and to use it to an advantage to attract other top players.