Tuesday 2 May 2017 22:41, UK
Everton may be powerless to keep hold of Romelu Lukaku if the Belgium international wants to leave the club this summer, says Graeme Sharp.
Lukaku rejected Everton's contract offer in March despite the Toffees' willingness to make him their highest paid player, according to Sky sources, before the 23-year-old admitted a decision over a deal has been made.
"Everybody knows in this day and age that players have the power and we'll just have to wait and see," Sharp told Sky Sports News HQ.
"Obviously what he's achieved this season in terms of goalscoring has been extraordinary for Romelu, in a team probably finishing outside the top six, so hats off to him there.
"Can we keep him? Only time will tell. I think Everton have a price but I think they want to keep him. You want to keep your better players.
"You're looking at somebody who is 23, has still got a bit to learn, but what a fantastic player he is at this moment in time for somebody so young. I think we tend to forget he is only a young age, so we want to keep our better players.
"Ross Barkley comes into that equation as well but as I said at the start, players have all the power nowadays so we just have to wait and see."
Lukaku has been reportedly linked with a return to Chelsea over the last few months, with the player frequently indicating he wants to play Champions League football.
