Season › 2025-26 › News
Romelu Lukaku linked with a rumoured return to Everton
Romelu Lukaku has been linked with a rumoured return to Everton after enduring an injury-laden campaign this season.
He’s yet to play a single minute for Napoli this season and could be on the way out of Serie A. Italian newspaper Il Mattino claims that the Toffees have explored the possibility of signing the Belgian this month and have presumably made initial contact with the striker’s representatives.
Fichajes have also reported that Eveton are considering a move for the Belgian international. “The deal is shaping up to be a golden opportunity, given that the Italian club has set a highly competitive price for the transfer. It's estimated that Napoli would accept a payment of between €15 and €20 million to finalize the sale of the experienced striker. This amount is attractive to the Merseyside club's finances, as they seek to upgrade their squad without jeopardizing their financial stability,” stated their website.
Lukaku was a goal machine during his spell at Goodison Park and one of the most important players for the club in the previous decade. He scored 87 goals in 166 appearances across all competitions between 2013 and 2017 and is also the club’s all-time top Premier League goal-scorer with 68 goals. Lukaku joined Manchester United for £75 million in 2017 but his career has been unsettled since then.
He has since played for Inter Milan, Chelsea and Roma before joining Napoli in 2024. He contributed to 25 goals in Napoli’s Serie A-winning campaign last season but has suffered from several fitness problems of late and has fallen down the pecking order for Antonio Conte.
Reader Comments (37)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()
2 Posted 20/01/2026 at 13:36:05
Last season he scored 14 league goals in 36 games.
But of course, if you'd prefer Beto and Barry...
3 Posted 20/01/2026 at 13:40:26
Just like Everton need to move on from signing has-beens...
4 Posted 20/01/2026 at 13:47:57
5 Posted 20/01/2026 at 13:49:50
Takes all sorts, I suppose.
If Everton sign Lukaku, Moyes will pick him every time when fit.
6 Posted 20/01/2026 at 13:58:57
7 Posted 20/01/2026 at 14:01:56
8 Posted 20/01/2026 at 14:25:38
9 Posted 20/01/2026 at 14:50:12
10 Posted 20/01/2026 at 14:50:18
11 Posted 20/01/2026 at 14:52:58
12 Posted 20/01/2026 at 14:59:18
13 Posted 20/01/2026 at 15:01:43
14 Posted 20/01/2026 at 15:27:46
Imo, given the service our current forwards get, Lukaku is not for us.
15 Posted 20/01/2026 at 15:31:04
16 Posted 20/01/2026 at 15:33:56
I said on another thread that we've a free hit now ( ain't going down ) in giving Barry a run until the end of season. Maybe there is a player in there. Same goes for Patterson.
17 Posted 20/01/2026 at 15:36:13
18 Posted 20/01/2026 at 15:36:29
On big wages and/or any serious transfer fee, I say too risky. We need shut of Beto and a striker who is likely to be available regularly. Maybe a loan deal and swap with Beto with a buy option but definitely too risky to put a lot of eggs in this basket and certainly not 15-20 millions plus big wages on a 3 year deal. That would be madness. Some strikers can survive well into their 30's (Kane, Ronaldo at an extreme) but heffalumps like Lukaku are sick notes waiting to happen.
19 Posted 20/01/2026 at 15:40:00
Big wages, too old and an inflated ego.
He WAS a good striker but his best days ended at Man U.
We would probably get Ivan Toney for less and that would be too much.
20 Posted 20/01/2026 at 16:12:26
21 Posted 20/01/2026 at 16:34:52
But I imagine hard to know whether anyone would buy Beto in the summer, when the market is much different.
In the scenario in which Lukaku fires us into Europe for next season, then the Beto swap idea is likely a yes — but that also depends on the length of his contract and how high the wages are. In the scenario where he scores 6 goals the rest of the way to Barrys 3 and were still mid-table, but now were stuck with an aging Lukaku next season who wants to start every match, then no. I think the latter is more likely.
Ive talked myself into no.
22 Posted 20/01/2026 at 16:38:01
And who better to have for Barry to learn off than big Rom.
23 Posted 20/01/2026 at 16:55:15
We would probably get Ivan Toney for less
I wouldn't bet on that
24 Posted 20/01/2026 at 17:17:16
Weve nowhere near the quality or depth of squad to compete in Europe and not get dragged into a relegation dogfight.
Hopefully, in a couple of years, we may be better equipped.
25 Posted 20/01/2026 at 17:20:59
If this waa a likely transfer, then I'd be happy to give it a go.
26 Posted 20/01/2026 at 17:57:16
Jay #19, it seems irrelevant now but you might wanna re-check your historical perspective. After leaving ManU, Rom scored 64 goals in two seasons at Inter. 64, dude. And two years ago he scored 21 at Roma. He's done a whole lotta stuff since departing Old Trafford.
Mark #18, actually, since leaving us Rom has had only one significant injury, a hammie in 2022, and otherwise has been remarkably durable, never playing less than 33 games a season. Per Transfermarkt he missed only 7 games to injury over the previous three seasons until going down with a torn thigh muscle (not a hammie) on a shot in a preseason match in August.
27 Posted 20/01/2026 at 17:57:18
Udinese tried to sell Beto to Napoli when Osiminhen demanded a move but they deemed him to be "inconsistent" so passed. I can't see them having since won the league and become competitive in the CL thinking Beto would be the man to take them forward. Sadly.
28 Posted 20/01/2026 at 18:00:50
The Morrocan fella doesnt look likely either, if there ever was anything it. High wages, prefers Italy it seems.
No mention of any right backs.
Feels like were going to ride it out with what weve got.
Im not for adding for adding sake but a bit more quality could just be the spur to lift us up that table, have us nudging the European spots, and we are then a more attractive proposition for others to join in the Summer.
29 Posted 20/01/2026 at 18:09:37
30 Posted 20/01/2026 at 18:35:51
31 Posted 20/01/2026 at 18:51:07
Why not Bob Latchford then. He scored 50% more in a season than Lukaku ever scored.
32 Posted 20/01/2026 at 19:02:00
As for Roms injury record, it may be true that hes been remarkably healthy, but after this significant injury this season it would still be a huge risk to take on high wages at his age.
34 Posted 20/01/2026 at 19:44:45
35 Posted 20/01/2026 at 20:05:11
He's definitely improving, with his supply getting better with players returning, I'm hopeful Barry will get 12-15 goals this season.
36 Posted 20/01/2026 at 21:30:47
37 Posted 21/01/2026 at 05:49:35
38 Posted 22/01/2026 at 03:21:13
No from me. Find someone somewhere younger, cheaper. That's your job, TFG. Get it done... or perhaps we should get some more in for Roma???
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
How to get rid of these ads and support TW


1 Posted 20/01/2026 at 13:31:01
No thanks.