Lukaku to leave Goodison before the Euros, Spurs target Bournemouth striker while West Ham talk to Christian Benteke. It's Wednesday's Paper Round.
Romelu Lukaku to leave Goodison before the Euros, Spurs target Bournemouth striker Callum while West Ham talk to Christian Benteke. It's Wednesday's Paper Round.
Lukaku up for grabs as United, Chelsea, PSG and Juventus fight it out
![Bournemouth's Callum Wilson is challenged by Stoke's Glenn Whelan and Geoff Cameron]()
![Olympique Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette (L) and Sergi Darder (C) celebrate after scoring]()
![Former Borussia Mönchengladbach manager Lucien Favre]()
Romelu Lukaku is set to leave Everton before the beginning of Euro 2016, with a range of elite clubs interested in the 23-year-old according to the Daily Mail. Manchester United, Chelsea, PSG and Juventus will all battle it out for the services of the Belgium international, as his father Rodger Lukaku confirmed a fee of £65 million is the set price tag. The report says despite the interest of the four, Juventus are unlikely to meet the valuation. Lukaku netted 25 goals this season and is under contract with Everton until 2019.
Paper Round's view: This is a massive blow to Everton's hopes of consistent European football in the short term. There will be a large amount of that £65m to spend, but there will be difficulty in replacing the influence Lukaku has on Everton's play. Everton have new investors so it won't damage them in the long term, but that dream quartet (Lukaku, Stones, Deulofeu and Barkley) is one step closer to breaking up.
Tottenham's £20m bid for Bournemouth's Callum Wilson
Spurs have targeted Bournemouth's Callum Wilson with a £20m bid in mind, according to the Daily Mail. Tottenham will be looking to give Harry Kane some relief next season, and will look to Bournemouth's Wilson as a potential line leader for the North London club. The report says that as Bournemouth are interested in the services of Spurs' Ryan Mason, that could engineer a starting point for any deal between the two clubs. Wilson had scored five goals from his first seven appearances before a cruciate ligament injury in September sidelined him for most of the season. The deal may also become more complicated, as both West Ham and Everton are interested in Wilson's services.
Bournemouth's Callum Wilson is challenged by Stoke's Glenn Whelan and Geoff Cameron - Reuters
Paper Round's view: Wilson has bucket loads of talent, however £20m is a steep investment for someone returning from injury issues. Spurs have to nail these transfers, otherwise they risk going backwards if they don't find players that fit in their system. We haven't seen enough of Wilson to confirm he can do it in the top flight consistently. A big 'buyer beware' here.
Lacazette turns down Hammers as they move for Benteke
After being turned down by Alexandre Lacazette, West Ham have targeted Liverpool's Christian Benteke on a loan deal according to the Sun. As West Ham's £31m bid for Lyon's Lacazette and Marseille's Michy Batshuayi seems to have failed, the London club have turned their attention to Liverpool's Benteke. According to the report, a big sticking point for the club is that Benteke's wages are more than £120,000 a week. The Hammers want Liverpool to subsidise part of his pay to help secure Benteke on a loan deal.
Olympique Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette (L) and Sergi Darder (C) celebrate after scoring - Reuters
Paper Round's view: Benteke has to find the right system for him to work. The Hammers play a moderate build-up style of football, one that favours tall types like Andy Carroll. Liverpool keep the ball on the ground more in their speedy counter-attacks, meaning Benteke was never going to work under Jurgen Klopp. The deal will only happen if Liverpool pay some of Benteke's wages and you'd bet they'd want to move on players who have no use in Klopp's plans.
Lucien Favre joins race for Everton job
Former Borussia Monchengladbach boss Lucien Favre has his hat in the ring for the Everton job, according to the Sun. The Swiss manager has spoken to officials at Goodison Park and is among the contenders to take the vacant job alongside Ronald Koeman and Frank De Boer. Favre led Monchengladbach to the Champions League, and has a string of other accolades including cup and league success in Switzerland.
Former Borussia Mönchengladbach manager Lucien Favre - AFP
Paper Round's view: What Favre did with Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga wasn't easy. With those European places being so hotly contested by about seven or eight teams each year, it's a notable thing to get them to qualify for Europe's top tournament. It's a feat that Everton hope he'll be able to repeat if he lands the job.
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