Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku rejects Everton return | OneFootball

Everton reportedly sounded out Romelu Lukaku this winter transfer window, but he is unwilling to leave Italy, according to Il Mattino.

Everton are in the market for a new striker and sensed an opportunity to snap up the Belgian (124 caps),

Lukaku played for the Toffees from 2013 to 2017, scoring 87 goals in 166 matches.

The Everton target, who David Moyes had lauded as ‘a really good player’, is yet to feature this season due to an injury sustained just before the campaign began.

Upon his return, he finds Rasmus Hojlund and Lorenzo Lucca ahead of him in the pecking order. Everton felt they could seize the chance to pounce and secure his signature.

Lukaku would have been the perfect candidate to lead the line for Moyes’ side. The 32-year-old is an experienced centre-forward with Premier League know-how (121 goals).

With Thierno Barry and Beto failing to set the Hill Dickinson Stadium alight with their performances, the Merseyside club could use a reliable option to spearhead their season.

If Lukaku is off the table, Everton would be wise to explore a move for Jorgen Strand Larsen, a striker who appears to be finding his rhythm at just the right time.

The Norwegian endured a slow start to the campaign, struggling for consistency and confidence in the early months, but recent weeks suggest he has turned a corner.

Strand Larsen opened his league account days ago, ironically against Everton, before delivering a statement performance in the FA Cup, registering a hat-trick.

The 25-year-old offers a blend of physical presence and mobility that would suit Moyes’ system, while still carrying significant upside compared to a short-term veteran fix.

A change of scenery to Merseyside could give Strand Larsen a genuine new lease of life, allowing him to lead the line regularly and rediscover his groove.