Everton have upped their asking price for striker Romelu Lukaku following the Belgian’s goalscoring efforts against West Ham United.
The powerful hitman found the net again on Saturday—scoring his seventh of the season—as he inspired Everton to claim a point away at Upton Park.
The Hammers opened the scoring on 30 minutes as Manuel Lanzini scored a magnificent effort, but their visitors responded just before the break when Gerard Deulofeu set up Lukaku, who converted past Adrian.
After the match, Roberto Martinez was asked about the accuracy of a reported £45 million asking price, and the Spanish coach acknowledged that even that eye-watering fee wouldn’t be enough to secure the striker.
“After today, [he is worth] £55m!” Martinez exclaimed, as per Goal. “The real problem is when the chairman or owner of the club says we need to cash in on two or three players. That is not the situation at Everton.
“[Lukaku] wants to break records. He had in his eye Tony Cottee in 1993 being the last player to score 20 goals in a calendar year.
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“He achieved that and he scored 21 and keeps going. He wants to improve and be the best in the world.”
The point against the Hammers takes Everton up to ninth in the table, having leapt over their local rivals Liverpool.
Lukaku was previously at Chelsea, before moving to Everton permanently in 2014.