In Romelu Lukaku, Everton have one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League but alas the Belgian has signalled that his career at Goodison Park could be over with some of Europe’s elite clubs interested in the hitman.

Chelsea seem to be the favourites in the race to sign Lukaku but what about Everton? Who should they sign to replace the twenty-four year old?

Well I think the Toffees should look no further than Manchester City frontman Kelechi Iheanacho.

The twenty year old, like Lukaku, has a keen eye for goal. He has twenty-one goals in fifty-eight City appearances and that’s been mainly from the bench!

Another similarity the Nigerian international shares with Romelu Lukaku is the fact that he has had to wait for his chance at a big club. Lukaku decided he could wait no longer and left Chelsea permanently in 2014 and this summer could see Kelechi reach the same career crossroads and make the same decision.

A lot will depend on Pep Guardiola and if he brings in any new strikers this summer. Talismanic forward Sergio Aguero looks set to stay and then there’s Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian is the same age as Iheanacho, yet the January signing already looks to be a favourite of Pep and ahead of the Nigerian in the City team pecking order.

So you can see why Kelechi Iheanacho might think his time could be up at the Eithad.

For Everton, they would be getting yet another hungry forward desperate for more game time, goals and a bit more responsibility.

He wouldn’t be a straight replacement for Lukaku.

Iheanacho isn’t as strong as Romelu but is a predator in the box. He possess a great deal of pace and can also get goals from outside the penalty area. It’s great to watch him finding space inside the box and assess when to strike.

I believe he’d thrive as a club’s main number nine, take his chance to star as a starter and grab lot’s of goals.

The money could make sense for Everton and Ronald Koeman too. They will look to get around £60m, if not more, for Lukaku (a player who wishes to leave the club). They could then get a potential superstar in Kelechi for as little as £2om, if reports are to be believed.

But the Toffees will have to act quickly, West Ham are supposedly already lining up their own bid for the young striker. Koeman can’t wait and see what happens with Lukaku before entering the market for a new hitman, he has to get someone like Iheanacho before another club gets to him first.

The worst that could happen if they sign him and then hang on to Lukaku is have two fine strikers to choose from or play together as an exciting duo.

If Everton have true ambitions about finishing in the top four of the Premier League then they have to make signing players with the potential of Kelechi Iheanacho a priority and get their business done as soon as possible in this transfer window!

Posted on May 29th, 2017 by scott
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