One more bargaining tactic or genuinely the end of the road?

Hope, still it's "All in the game", negotiation-wise and he signs... on Friday!

"I'll be at Barcelona next season, Rom. Then I'll sign you, so stall on that new contract and keep it on the down-low."

Interesting to see how the crowd reacts on Saturday!

I still think he will sign a new contract with us.

From my point of view, and I am biased towards us, but I don't see massive investment coming on a scale like Chelsea and Man City did when they wanted to be top dogs. If that's the case, don't blame Lukaku not signing up to him. Hope I'm wrong and we massively invest in players this summer and beyond.

Not beyond the realms of possibility...

At least now the club knows where it stands and can aim to get the sale completed quickly with replacements signed up before the start of the new season. In years gone by the club has been criticised for leaving matters until the summer by which time the room for manoeuvre has become more restricted.

There are no guarantees, of course, but hopefully the sale of Lukaku will not drag on until 31st August – by which stage, suitable replacements will no longer be available.

Looking at it from not so much of an anti-Lukaku perspective, perhaps there are 6 teams that are above us that could be doing better if they had Lukaku. I assume that more points for any of those teams would be better, including even Chelsea.

One can only wonder how much more effective and prolific Rom could be with Sanchez, Alli, Jesus, Sterling, Coutinho, etc. playing in support of him. I would guess, an extra 8-10 goals a season, even without takingpenalties like Kane. Of course, given that he would be playing in European competitions, and probably even longer into the domestic competitions, maybe the goals tally would be even higher. Perhaps his goals would be the little bit that is seemingly lacking in getting one of those teams into the semi-finals and finals of the European competitions.

Personally, I would prefer him to stay at Everton, but would only expect it to occur if the club's ambitions elevate to match his own. I take his not signing what is in reality, an extension on an existing contract, to be a direct challenge to Everton's ownership to up its ambition and to walk the walk, instead of just talking the talk.

The player has little regard for the club, past incidents an the leak today tell us that. I understand what he wants, I get it, at 24 and scoring for fun in the Premier League.

Why couldn't he just say it will be settled in the summer? It would at least calm things down on the pitch and now he risks vitriol on Saturday, not that he cares?

What about Koeman and Walsh? Arguably both should have a better handle on the situation. The fact Everton cannot control their players, not just Rom, needs addressing. It smacks of the circus, amateurish.

Moshiri? I, like many swing back on forth on Rom, but it's all a bit much now.

Posted on the other thread, "I wouldn't be surprised to see him back on loan after he ultimately fails the acid test he craves."

That's the nub, a great fit for him and Everton; I have my doubts he succeed in a bigger pond.

Also, this talk about Ron going to Barca... when he actualy wins a trophy with Everton, then maybe – but not before. So let's just concentrate on beating Hull and see where we go from there, okay? COYB

If you were Man City, Arsenal or Chelsea, would you fork £60m+ for a player with what can be perceived as a suspect mentality?

These are the games world class players worth £60-80m plus and earning north of £100k a week are expected to perform in. He just doesn't do it against the top sides away from home. I can't recall him scoring that many for us at Chelsea, RS, Man Utd or Arsenal or even putting in a MotM type of performance.

Happy for him to stay and prove me wrong. I would love nothing more than him being the hero on April 1st.

I take it that you want him to go!!

I think we will double our money on Rom and we've done well to keep him as long as we have. Top goal scorers tend to move to the top teams where they can win things. We saw this with Rooney and Suarez recently and it's always been the way.

For people to say he shows no loyalty or love for the club is crazy. He will only be a top striker for a limited amount of years and he has to put his own ambitions first. He's not even from England.

I want him to stay but I want him to also perform in the 'big' away games to get us into the Champions League.

A release clause of £90m is unrealistic, if that is what's held up him signing a new deal.

Surely some middle ground can be found?

Even if a club offered over £70M for him, it's possible that the Board decides that the value to the club of keeping him full for the duration of the current contract, is higher than the potential loss of a high transfer offer. The ball is in Everton's court as regards whether he'll still be here after this summer.

Nothing wrong with ambition – but don't hang it out there, if asked, that the club you currently play for, and the fans you play in front of each week, aren't good enough for you.

I guess Koeman will also be asked has he had any contact with Arsenal or Barca.

If he were to leave, let's use it as an opportunity. I would like us to consider Iheanacho, Alcacer and Dolberg plus Calvert-Lewin and even, just maybe Niasse. All young strikers who can improve but have the ability to score (Niasse excluded) and some real competition for that front spot. It'd make a big difference to our current state of no competition for that position in the squad and hence the player having all the power.

Somehow all the people I'm doing charity work with in Pakistan have heard about this. The EPL is truly global.

I think its sad that Lukaku may well be leaving but I'm not surprised or angry with him. At least he's stuck around longer than Stones did or indeed Rooney!! The last thing I want is for the crowd to boo him on Saturday – if he is leaving, surely we want a good return on the last 10 games.

People can be so gullible and easily led by the media. And any who do produce a negative response on Saturday, particularly booing, do not deserve any 'new era' or success of any kind from this great club.

Evertonians are not a band of people who all think the same way, they are a diverse group who have different views on all aspects of life and that is shown by the variety of views on this thread and others.

The situation doesn't change, whether or not he signs a new contract; he wants to leave for 'bigger' and 'better', he's always wanted to leave since he first arrived and no amount of cash thrown at him by Everton FC will alter that situation.

We'll miss his goals and it will be an expensive job to try and replace him, but either by altering the way the team plays or being lucky in who we bring in, Everton FC will have to replace him at some point in time and that looks as if it will be sooner rather than later.

If his moving on leads to more of our 'stars' wanting to move, such as Ross or Gueye, then we are in for yet another rebuilding project and another two years in the relative wilderness. Let's hope the management team are able to bring in the right quality of players and quickly – that's of course if the management team don't decide to jump ship too.

"I'll be very surprised if Rom gets booed on Saturday if he does it will only be by a small section of the crowd".

My feeling, too.

We've all known for years (although we hoped he could eventually be turned to actually care for the club) that he's just a mercenary whose heart will never be with Everton, so I'm happy with him improving his skills with us and hopefully providing us with both better league positions and a hefty transfer sum at the end if he actually goes.

The little, vengeful boy within me screams to bench him and let our youth have a chance for the rest of the season! The mature part of me says we've seen it all before in modern football, so for now he's ours until the fat lady sings her last aria and we have either a new talent in place, or a hefty transfer sum to purchase one. This season + two more years on the current contract, after all...

He's too aware of his need to keep up doing good to lay down his tools if we don't find a way to make him sign a new contract, even if he really wants to leave!

Maybe the player's being unreasonable.

Maybe his agent has been disingenuous (no shit).

Maybe the club has mishandled the situation, increasing the chances of him leaving.

Maybe it's a combination of all of the above plus more besides. The thing is... we don't know, do we?

Nor does it really feel like the timing is his fault. If he's got a contract in front of him and the club asking him to sign it or not; then he's got to say a yes or a no at some point. If he doesn't feel like it's the right contract for him then obviously he has to say no. It's somewhat self inflicted on our part to have the contract in front of him two thirds of the way through the season.

And please stop with the "he's not that good", "he never does it when it matters" bullshit, it's embarrassing.

Yes, it's as if we've lost track of the fact that it's just a breakdown in negotiations. The media (and the comments of our more excitable fellows...) make it all seem like a total snub of EFC. I think the original report just said he would not sign the current contract proposal.

I'd prefer it if we could keep him for another year, at least, and so I still hope we'll finish in a position where he'll see us as his best position for showcasing his talents for another year, at least.

The report in today's Guardian simply sates that he was approached after a training session and asked if he had signed the contract, answer No. He was also asked if talks were ongoing to which he also said no, that was it.

I'm in 2 minds over this. Every few months this is shoved down our throats; like with Stones, we all know he'll leave. Maybe it would be better to get rid this summer for a wad of cash and get two new strikers.

Every player of his calibre wants to play for a 'big club'. Well, we're supposed to be getting 'bigger', and by next season or the one after we could well be competing in the Champions League. So even if Lukaku were desperate to play in the Champions League, it's readily foreseeable that he can achieve that with us.

As I've said before, his value to the club over the next two years could be considered (by the Board) to be greater than any transfer fee likely to be offered by another 'big' club, and that could influence Everton deciding he's going nowhere before July 2019, regardless of whether he signs a new contract.

Every time there's a press report about Lukaku, there's a knee-jerk reaction, including on TW. Yes, we all have opinions, many different ones, but it's useful to highlight the facts amongst the plethora of opinions.

The people that have leverage in this situation are Lukaku and his agent. If Lukaku doesn't want to sign an extension, Everton FC are in the position of keeping a player that really doesn't want to be in the squad and that's not a good situation. If Lukaku doesn't sign an extension, he'll have 2 years left on his contract (and time would start ticking away towards 1 year left of his contract).

It will be interesting this summer to see which team(s) are willing to pay fair market value for Lukaku. If there are no suitors, then I assume Lukaku might stay and sign an extension... but I think there will be offer(s) for his services especially since he counts as a homegrown player in the EPL.

We have known for years that his heart is not here and there was a major risk to our league placing if he got injured and we have failed to bring in any competition/replacement for his place.

If we were truly ambitious, we would have ensured we got Gabbiadini or Slimani or at least that quality of player.

Just as worrying is the cover for left back.

Perhaps you could enlighten me with these facts that you mention. I certainly don't know any facts about Lukaku's contract situation. I certainly have no idea about what Rom's value is to the board of directors. I can do what most of us do on here and speculate but I could be a million miles out with my conclusions.

If so, I hope Lukaku keeps his sense, help push for the 4th place and sign a new contract. We can only speculate for now. Let's just move to the next game, COYB.

My own feeling is that Rom is just too good for a Europa league standard club like Everton and that he probably needs to leave to fulfil his potential. We'll survive and possibly play better football when no so reliant on the big man.

I rate him very highly and can see him becoming the very best; he would go with my blessings and best wishes and thanks for having joined us for a while on our own journey to success which will happen with or without Rom but at different rates.

My frustration is that Moshiri has retained the amateurs Bill and Ben to negotiate player contracts. Let's face it, Boys Pen Bill has plenty of form on being a long-winded, tight-arsed, penny-pinching negotiator.

The day is ours to make, with this team on Saturday. The first time in donkey years and some rays of hope for Everton, and as is likely when there's hope on the horizon for EFC, there's some incoming scuds and crap to fend off and smooth out.

Life is good but too short, so let's focus on the club and focus on Saturday. The gutter press (and that is most of the national press) are not worth getting stoked up for.

Who knows what's gonna happen with Rom, but let's focus on what we can influence, beat Hull, enjoy the break and them next two games..

There is then most probably confirmation of interest from one of the usual suspects but who don't want to pay what would be around ?80mil for the hottest young proven forward in the Premier League.

They know that, to get that fee down, they need to get a much lower trigger fee in the new contract that interested clubs would then be willing to pay. (£50 mil seems the price being pushed by the media, ex-players etc.)

Lukaku then uses his usual trick of a snide interview abroad to get the process started and the ensuing full scale onslaught from the media to put pressure on our club.

Next day comes his side of the story portraying the club as unambitious, not interested in winning etc etc. This then deflects any criticism that he would have got from fans and puts all the negativity onto the club.

This man has been paid handsomely by the club and given him the platform, coaching and support to get him to a place where he is now attracting the attention of Champions League teams. He has continually ridiculed this club, hindering our attempts to move forward and now yet again has us plastered all over the media as a small time club which may again prevent us from signing the players we want in the Summer.

We have tried to sign players, Sissoko switched his phone off, Bolasie was signed apparently on the advice of Lukaku, £31 million spent in the January window, so sorry but lack of signings doesn't wash with me.

All above is conjecture, but I would believe this more than poor Lukaku loving the club and fans but being let down by the club.

To quote as dubious a character as Roms agent, I'II lay this one on yer,

" Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know. And if one looks throughout the history of our country and other free countries, it is the latter category that tend to be the difficult ones."

Like everything to do with Everton.... clear as mud.