Our Precious

And why play in a weaker league in Europe when the Premier League is where most of the top players are (if not the THE top 2 or 3 players) if ambition is your thing?

So it's a good question to ask – where would he go to get what he wants? Unfortunately I think it’s still likely to be Man Utd or Chelsea or Arsenal. But the current trend is that these clubs are not the force they once were and that may make Everton a more palatable alternative – so the longer we can hold him the more likely we are to hold him longer, but we must perform next season. I fear we have blown it this season, but who knows – a strong finish in the League and an FA Cup win might keep him going another year.

Best player we have had at that position since the mid-eighties. Sharp had a better first touch and could hold the ball up better than any other player I have ever seen, Lineker was faster, Heath cleverer and Gray a better header and inspiration. Lukaku has a bit of everything, and he is stronger than those four I have mentioned.

I want to see him in an Everton shirt for years. 5-6 at least (he will still only be 27-28 for goodness sakes – some say that's your prime. He is brilliant and I would be gutted, as we all would, if he does leave.

If all our worst fears come true, the club should slap a £100million price tag on him. Think about it. If Bale is worth £85million, what price a 22-year-old at his level? If Barcelona tried to sell one of their three forwards, they would be looking over that amount. In this day and age, he is worth it.

The big deciding factor however is the new owner, Moshiri. We don't know anything about this guy yet and he might have huge ambitions. If he has he won't be selling anyone just yet.

If other clubs don’t know, I would imagine his agent wouldn’t be long in telling them.

It will have to be a world class proven striker to replace him.

In any case, compensation is due and the amount needs to be agreed between the 3 parties (two clubs and player) and it is not, despite what some believe, a simple calculation of the wages left on the contract – there’s been cases in UEFA where transfers failed as compensation couldn’t be agreed.

If you mean a release clause, they’re not that common in English football – although Fellaini had one. Legally they are untested and could therefore be subject to challenge. I think with Fellaini he had to forego a loyalty payment (the irony) before Everton agreed to the Man Utd bid which matched his release clause.

Similarly, the RS refused Arsenal’s bid of £42 million and a quid for Chewy Suarez – despite the release clause being met.

Usually though it comes down to if the player really wants to go, he’ll go. I don’t think anyone really wants this to be legally tested.

(Side note – notice how the players involved – Jean Marc Bosman and Andy Webster – when it does go legal, really tend not to be worth the legal fees!)

Whatever happens in the ensuing weeks, months, seasons, Roberto’s unwillingness to see, change or adapt until his mind is concentrated by the arrival of a new owner – thus totally bollocksing up what could’ve been a cracker of a season with a little more ’non-philosophical pragmatism’ (see Leicester) which could very likely lead to Lukaku’s departure. This will forever, just like Kenwright and Kings Dock, hang like an albatross, around the neck of any Legacy, Reputation and Achievements he might garner in the future.

Roberto will be lucky to be here in September and we will be even luckier if Lukaku is as well.

It was obvious to me the first time I watched Rom play in a Blue shirt. The lad is going to be an all-time great for Everton... IF WE CAN KEEP HIM.

He got a fair bit of stick on TW ... bad first touch... lazy... etc etc. As a young man, you are by far from the finished product and obviously will improve your touch as you work on it.

The ’lazy’ tag comes because he doesn't run around like a Vardy type of player. As a 14/15 stone lad, he simply can't do that. Better that he preserves his energy for his main job of putting the ball in the net.

He has to be offered a new contract on high wage to keep him mid to long term.

Hopefully they can develop a positive connection with the club and its supporters. More importantly, the bond between manager and the other players can be very strong. Most get paid very well.

All of our " targets " are already on a good wage. With Mr Moshiri on board, matching the other clubs offers is hopefully possible, so the main reasons any player, including Rom, would use to leave, would be trophies, Champions League... glory.

If they do leave, we will most certainly ask, and get, top dollar, but hopefully, Lukaku and the others stick around a while. All of the pieces are starting to fall into place. We are on the verge of something spectacular! The glory will come, sooner or later. Sooner, if what we’re building doesn’t self destruct before its time.

On another topic, after that little sound bite from Kenwright on the weekend, I don’t think that Martinez is going anywhere soon.

That begs another question, is Martinez the right man to lead Everton into this new era? Personally, I would be astonished if he is still here next season. If it is true that Moshiri has been courted by Bill for 18 months, then he has witnessed first hand how inept Martinez has been and I can’t imagine that he will entrust his money, dreams and vision to him.

We need a proven winner as a manager, someone streetwise and not afraid to make big decisions. Fingers crossed.

Stones wanted to go, was the subject of three bids from Chelsea, put in a transfer request, and was told "You’re going nowhere, you’re under contract."

With three years, after the end of this season, left on his contract, is the situation with Lukaku not the same?

Ross and Rom are clearly working well together and should improve too.

When Stones handed in a transfer request we had no replacement, now we have Funes Mori and a number of youngsters. It was handled pretty well really.

Problem is, if you sell Rom, you aren’t going to be buying a world class proven goalscorer for the same money – it would cost you more – so what is the point of selling ?

If we sold we’d have to invest in two younger strikers showing potential already at mid-table teams – a bit like Lukaku really.

I expect Niasse will find his feet eventually but he can’t replace Lukaku – I’m no really sure who could – Costa? heh.

I think Moshiri, called it right when he talked about the playing field being as level as anytime, since the invention of the EPL. So if Leicester, can have a good go at it, what do you think the talk will be right now, in a lot of changing rooms around the country?

We have some great young players, and if we spend wisely in the summer, we must be in with a shout ourselves next season. That’s what I think everyone will now be thinking at Finch Farm, so for that reason, I would be very surprised if he left in the summer.

Martinez, talks more sense when he goes straight to the point, so maybe their might be an agreement in place. But nights like Saturday, will surely make Lukaku, have second thoughts about leaving, if the thought has even entered his head, that is.

Liverpool baulked at losing Suarez and later Sterling, but both eventually left for pastures new.

We had overtures for Barkley and Stones but both suffered loss of form since and their value has dropped.

Barkley had a poor season following all the plaudits he received a couple of years ago.

This season has been better but he is still striving to reach his potential, whatever that level is.

Stones is another who was highly praised but has dropped his form alarmingly of late.

Not long ago he was considered our first choice at centre back, now he is benched.

Most clubs see players as assets and if Lukaku wants to leave then it could be the best time to let him go whilst his stock is so high.

He may have a dip in form next season and his value will undoubtedly suffer.

Do not get me wrong, I want all our best players to stay and that includes Stones, Lukaku and Barkley.

I want to see a huge surge in ambition at the club with our new investor backing the manager with an increased transfer budget.

I want us to emerge from this seasons disappointments and challenge for the title next season with everyone firing on all cylinders.

Unfortunately our club has been infamous for years for breaking up great sides after fleeting successes.

We have never been forward thinking enough to produce those conveyor belts of continued success as have other clubs.

We have followed success by failures too often and I really hope that Mr Moshiri manages to keep hold of our best group of young players and build a great side around them that will last for more than one season.

I tend to believe the lad.

Personally, I don't think he was bought to succeed Rom but probably as an expensive 'sweetener' for some agent or other with whom we might be doing business.

If Lukaku has a weakness it is his unwillingness to chase and press as Martinez wants, this would matter less at PSG than at any of the other top European clubs. If we can keep him, Barkley, Coleman and Stones then we have the nucleus of a team that should be capable of challenging for a top spot, though given English teams’ poor performances in the Champions League, it will possibly need a top three spot rather than a top four spot, if Everton are to perform on this stage.

We’ll have to wait and see, but I think he will push to leave.

Lukaku of course is a completely different league to what Niasse has achieved, he's better than most strikers at this moment Lukaku though.

I wouldn't be looking to sell Lukaku for any price in the summer but if he goes then Martinez will have to pull something special out to replace that guy, the prolific goalscoring, the power, pace.

I think Niasse will be a useful backup striker, a more fitter upgrade of Kone if you like, but I very much doubt he'll be first choice striker next season regardless of Lukaku being here or not.

I have a hunch Lukaku will eventually end up at Bayern Munich, especially if as half expected Robert Lewandowski follows Pep Guardiola to Manchester this summer.

Rom said this a few weeks ago when asked about his plans... Looks to me he will be going, and from the Martinez interview, RM has resigned himself to this or an agreement has been made.

Seems to be a different situation from the Stones (non-)transfer.

I am worried about RM’s comments - a departure from his normal stance in that we don’t have to sell our players. It smacks of something he knows and we don’t.

However, on the face of it, I personally think it is comes down to three factors, given it is still in the balance.

1) Mr Moshiri and what effect will he have on finances this summer. Will he improve Rom’s contract and show we are in the market for some "names" coming into EFC?

2) The FA Cup – winning it might give him an incentive to stay.

3) Our present manager. He needs to convince everybody he is the man to take this club and Mr Moshiri’s financial backing to places Rom wants to go.

I believe he convinced the squad that this year was their "shot" and if it didn’t pay off then those who wished could move to pastures green.

Man City need a second striker, Sergio Aguerro is mustard but picks up his share of knocks, and they play a lot of games. Rom would get games, a fat wage packet, medals and champions league football.

No need to look for a new house, settle in a new country, or lose contact with his pals in the North West either. Also good form there would ensure a move abroad at a later date if that's what he wanted.

City... you heard it here first..

I don’t think he is as certain to go as John Stones, I do not believe for one moment "we don’t have to sell anymore", if we seriously wanted to keep beyond this season then he would have been offered a new contract after Chelsea were turned down, over six months later no new contract has been offered.

I hope I am wrong but I think both Stones and Lukaku will go, it’s what happens to the transfer money that concerns me.

When Man Utd come calling around August time for Lukaku, set the price around 3 times what we paid for him £75 million.

There are areas of his game that have come on leaps and bounds, I'm convinced that a few a doubts were planted when he was knocked out at Upton park a couple of seasons ago, but he has well and truly exorcised those demons and he is showing exceptional bravery with some of his headers. He's starting to look world class.

Let's him soak the atmosphere in an open top bus journey around the City waving the cup around.

If that doesn't make him want to stay, we may as well start looking for his replacement.

It won't be easy...

Buying the right player(s) in his place could mean we will be stronger. Every club loses their best players at some time and has to move on. It’s what you then put in their place that matters. I just hope he doesn’t go to another Premier League club.

Spurs wasted the Bale money but have recovered because of good management that has created a highly effective team with players no better than we have – many not as good. Sadly, on current performance we don’t have that management.

I hope he stays, to have such a prolific scorer is a wonderful feeling and one we haven’t really known on a regular basis since the days of Cottee!

He’s under contract. If we don't want to sell we don't have to... end of!

It's certainly working for the team.

It’s up to Moshiri and the manager to show him their ambition by surrounding him with top class players (as well as keeping the ones we already have) who will make his life a lot easier on the pitch. Give him Butland, Goetze or Gundogan and Yarmolenko and I think he’ll happily stay with us.

Can you imagine a team like this?

Butland
Coleman
Stones
Funes Mori
Baines
McCarthy
Gundogan
Barkley
Deulofeu
Lukaku
Yarmolenko

Dream team...

PSG with their wealth is my only concern and they can guarantee Champions League football.

Abso-fecking-lutely!

Why have a pop at Inchy here – spit my tea out.

I don't know how old you are and whether you were around for 84-87?

Inchy scored my favourite ever EFC goal: 117th minute, Highbury 1984 (and erm the Oxford goal that started it all).

Yes, Heath in the same breath. He would be terrific with Lukaku in much the same way as he was with Sharpy.

A magical little fella at his best with brill touch and for a tadpole he scored a few headers. A wonderful playing-off-the-big-fella sort of player with pace.

Injuries ruined his time with us at the end of the day nothing else. A very special player and IMO it was utterly inappropriate to write this about him.

We are not saying he is as good as Lukaku, for feck's sake.

Smart fella too. He opened at wine bar in Stoke called Heaths! Probably the only ever wine bar in Stoke.

Actually far far worse things can happen. I am particularly concerned about talk of a breakaway super league of European Clubs – already 4 or 5 English clubs have been in talks with an American investor (we are not one of them). This would completely screw us – worth a whole separate thread.

Some of the big continental teams may start to favour such a league because the Premier League’s success is hollowing out the other leagues in Europe. Ajax, Bayern and Juventus really do need to do something to retain their status (or regain their status in the case of Ajax).

Sad if that ever happens, luckily for me, my son and grandson are born blue, like me.

Great answer from him ..."his first touch can be as bad as it wants, his second touch usually ends up in the net"

I think he has vastly improved his first touch by the way.

We’ve been woeful in the league two years running now and no amount of money is going to change that if there is no change of manager anyway with further leads me to believe he’ll be gone, FA Cup win or not. If Lukaku also has a decent Euros then we can forget it.

We should also learn from the Stones saga where we ended up cutting our nose off to spite our face. Lost out on £37m as well as having an unhappy player who then played well below his normal standards all season – we’d be lucky to get £20m for Stones right now nevermind £37m. If Rom wants to go in the summer, contract or no contract, we should get the highest price for him and move on. At current market rates we could get upwards of £60m!

Can see a massive clear out coming this summer with the likes of: Hibbo, Osman, Mirallas, Gibson, Pienaar, Howard all leaving, before we even mention any of our best players. All I hope for is that if RM is going to be replaced they do it early and allow the new guy enough time to sort the squad out as its going to be a very busy summer either way.

I remember being devastated when we sold Andrei. A year later, Duncan left. It was heartbreaking to a teenager like I was then.

Players come and go, it’s just football. We couldn’t even hold onto Wayne and he’s a Blue!

The only difference now is that we’ll rake in a monumental transfer fee AND we now have that once mythical investor!

The team should be stronger in August than it is now. Regardless of whether or not Rom is still here.

Just win us the Cup before you leave!