Paul Merson questions whether 16-goal PL striker can replace Lukaku at Everton [not Defoe]
By Amir Mir
Paul Merson has asked whether Bournemouth striker Josh King can replace Everton ace Romelu Lukaku in the summer.
The 25-year-old has scored 16 Premier League goals this season for Eddie Howe’s side as they currently occupy a top ten spot in the table.
King was on target for his team as they beat Burnley 2-1 at Dean Court on Saturday afternoon, with his late strike proving to be the winner.
Everton frontman Lukaku refused to sign a contract with the club earlier on in the campaign, which has seen his future come into doubt.
After King had helped his team to all three points on Saturday, this is what Merson had to say about King as his comments did come with a warning.
“They are going to have a fight on their hands to keep King,” Merson told Sky Sports. “I mean he’s scored 16 goals playing for Bournemouth.
“[If] Lukaku goes, would you take King to Everton for Lukaku? But those 16 goals could become six or seven if he went somewhere else.”
Lukaku is one year younger than the 25-year-old King, with the Belgian currently topping the scoring charts in the Premier League.
Over the course of the season, Lukaku has struck 24 goals during his 36 league matches, but he has failed to find the back of the net during his last four games.
For King, since the turn of the year, he has been in fine form, netting 13 goals, including scoring a hat-trick on home soil against West Ham in March.
In February, Lukaku struck four goals against Bournemouth as Ronald Koeman’s side secured a thrilling 6-3 win – King scored two of his side’s three goals.
In other Everton news, this 27-year-old has vowed to do this next season.
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