Football
PA Sport 8y

Everton's Romelu Lukaku eager to play in Champions League

Romelu Lukaku's excellent season has led to speculation over his future and the Everton striker has admitted to thinking about the Champions League.

Belgium international Lukaku, 22, has scored 25 goals so far this season and is looking like becoming the first Everton player to score 30 in a campaign since Gary Lineker in 1986.

Despite his continued brilliance, Everton remain mid-table, with an FA Cup semifinal -- brought about by Lukaku's demolition of Chelsea -- keeping their season alive.

Reports have suggested Lukaku could move on from Goodison Park this summer and while he says he is not interested in a "fight" with the club about his future, he admits to thinking about where he could one day play.

Speaking to a number of national newspapers, he said: "That's looking far ahead and I don't want to do that. I'm 23 this summer. I have been playing [professionally] since I was 16 and never had a taste of the Champions League.

"It is going to be seven years. You think about it -- if it is going to happen. Champions League football is really the next step.

"If something happens, it will be for the good of the club. I don't want to leave in a fight, if it happens. I won't say this or that. It is going to be good for me personally and for the club."

Boss Roberto Martinez invested in Lukaku when it was clear Chelsea did not see a future for him and, as such, the striker is grateful for the faith shown in him.

"They were the ones who believed in me at a time when nobody believed in me and they gave me a platform to perform," he added.

"I have tried to repay them by doing good performances, but I have an agent who deals with the interest. I do not want to be bothered with it. I just want to play my football.

"I have an open relationship with the manager. I will be honest enough with him to say what I think. But we have 10 more games to go and we are not at that point yet."

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