LUKAKU TO STAY

Rom deal is Good to go

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ROMELU LUKAKU is on the verge of signing a new deal at Everton, according to his agent.

Mino Raiola said last December that a new deal for the striker was “99.9 per cent” done but since then nothing has been agreed.

But asked yesterday if he will sign a new contract, Raiola said: “Yes.” He added that it was “99.999” when asked how close the deal is.

But, intriguingly, Raiola said Lukaku, 23, committing to a new Goodison Park deal does not mean he would see it out.

He equalled Duncan Ferguson’s record of 60 Premier League goals for Everton in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Sunderland and is joint top of the goal charts with Alexis Sanchez and Harry Kane on 17 this season.

Desire

But he refused to talk about his future when asked afterwards.

In the past Lukaku has not hidden his desire to play Champions League football and the Toffees remain an outside bet to finish in the top four.

“We are signing a longer contract so that is for sure the intention [to stay,” said Raiola.

“In football, contracts are not there to be going until the end sometimes, but there is always two parties in the deal.

“If everybody thinks it is better to move on, that will be done at that moment. But for this moment, he is signing a contract with Everton.”

Toffees boss Ronald Koeman has remained coy about the speculation surrounding Lukaku’s contract. Everton great Alex Young has died in Edinburgh aged 80. The Scot hit 87 goals in 273 appearances for the club winning the title in 1963, the FA Cup in 1966 and earning the nickname ‘The Golden Vision’.