Romelu Lukaku set for record new Everton deal

Romelu Lukaku is on the brink of signing a new club record contract at Everton, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Echo reporter Greg O’Keefe reports that the Toffees are in advanced talks with Lukaku’s advisers over a deal that will see the striker become the club’s best paid player earning in excess of £100,000 a week.

Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri was spotted with Lukaku’s agent Mino Raiola during Monday’s Merseyside derby.

The Echo claims Moshiri played a key role over the summer in persuading Raiola to keep his client at Goodison Park, rather than push for a big money move.

It now appears Moshiri has persuaded Raiola to extend Lukaku’s stay on Merseyside.

Lukaku’s current deal, worth around £75,000 a week, expires in July 2019 and any new deal is likely to run until at least 2020.

Even if Lukaku does pen a new deal we all know it is no guarantee the Belgian will still be at the club long-term.

The 23-year-old is fiercely ambitious and has made it known publicly on more than one occasion that he wants to play in the Champions League sooner rather than later.

However, what this deal does do is allow the club to possibly keep Lukaku for one or two more seasons, allowing more time for the Moshiri project to take shape.

And if clubs do express an interest Everton will be able to command a high price, with some valuing the former Chelsea striker in the region of £80m.

Therefore there is nothing but good to come out of this deal. And after what happened against Liverpool on Monday it is a timely piece of Christmas cheer for despairing Evertonians.