Lukaku set for new Everton contract

Romelu Lukaku is set to sign a new contract with Everton, as the Toffees look to ward off interest from Chelsea in the Belgian striker, according to reports.

The Mirror is reporting that Everton will make Romelu Lukaku the highest paid player in the club’s history by offering the powerful striker a £100,000 a week contract, as the Toffees look to tie the 23-year-old down long term amid interest from Chelsea.

It has been reported for months now that Chelsea were weighing up a bid in the region of £70 million for Lukaku this summer, as new manager Antonio Conte was hopeful of manufacturing a Stamford Bridge return for the Belgium international.

But, last week, Everton boss Ronald Koeman claimed that Lukaku had informed him of his desire to stay at Goodison Park this season, and it now seems that the Merseysiders are willing to break their wage structure to secure his services.

Everton have already lost star defender John Stones to Manchester City in a £47.5 million deal this summer, and with the cash injection from Iranian billionaire Farhad Moshiri’s investment in the club, they are under no financial pressure to sell players.

The Toffees have ambitions of climbing the Premier League table and challenging for Champions League qualification, and, along with the signings of Ashley Williams and Yannick Bolasie, holding onto Lukaku would be a big step in that direction.