Everton legend Bob Latchford is convinced Romelu Lukaku will stay next season.

Lukaku has still not signed a lucrative new five-year contract with the club but Latchford is unconcerned that the stand-off could hamper his form if he remains with the Blues.

Latchford told the Liverpool Echo: “Romelu Lukaku is not going to down tools at all. He wants to improve and he wants to score goals.

“He's got a reputation to uphold. It is a bit of a quandary but personally I think he may stay, at least another year. The biggest doubt is about Ross Barkley, he may just go.

“From what I've been told he's got more chance of going this summer than Lukaku.

“Every player can be replaced, whoever you are. The challenge is to get the quality players to replace other quality players.

“It's obviously much better to keep them and improve, that would be ideal but it's not an ideal situation and you never have an ideal situation.

“Things like this always happen but what Ronald Koeman does in the transfer market this summer could have quite an impact, not just on next season but the years to come."