Thursday 20 April 2017 16:41, UK
Ronald Koeman has insisted he will do "everything" to make sure Romelu Lukaku remains an Everton player next season.
The Everton boss believes the Belgium striker, who is the Premier League's top scorer with 24 goals, is a better all-round player which has made him more attractive to other clubs.
Lukaku, who has told the club he will not sign a new contract and has two years left on his current deal, has already found the net six more times than last year's total in the league.
And such form has lead Koeman to believe that the club will move heaven and earth to keep hold of their star attraction.
"He has scored 24 goals and with five games to go he can reach a really high total," Koeman said. "It is like for any player who is performing at a high level - every team likes to have goalscorers in the team because goals make points for the team.
"But I think he is improving in the rest of his football. He is doing better pressing and running in the channels.
"I've had several conversations about how, in my opinion, he needs to play as a striker and he is working hard and improving.
"If someone is interested for sure they will call the board and then we will speak about it but we will try to do everything to keep him at Everton next season."
It comes after former Blues striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said Lukaku is an ideal replacement for Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge, if the Spaniard leaves in the summer.
Everton are seventh in the Premier League table and face West Ham away on Saturday.
