Romelu Lukaku can become Everton's greatest modern player

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Romelu Lukaku scored a game-clinching goal for Everton against Sunderland this weekend, his 17th of the season in the Premier League. It took him top of the league's scoring charts, and it was his 60th in the Premier League for the club. He's only the second Everton player to reach that mark in the Premier League era.

Everton blog Royal Blue Mersey argues that it's already time for Lukaku to be considered one of the greatest players in the club's history. He's scored at the same rate Cristiano Ronaldo did during his Manchester United days, and at 23 years old, he's enjoying the best season of his career.

And it looks like the Toffees are going to get to enjoy watching Lukaku score for them to a long time to come. Despite grumblings last summer that he was looking to leave, Lukaku's agent Mino Raiola now says his client is close to signing a new contract to stay at Everton.

The only Everton forwards who were as prolific as Lukaku in front of goal played for the club pre-World War II. Graeme Sharp is Everton's most successful striker of the modern era, winning two league titles and an FA Cup while scoring 159 competitive goals in 11 seasons. At Lukaku's current scoring rate, he'll pass Sharp for goals scored after just eight seasons. And notably, Lukaku is already Everton's all-time leading scorer in European competition.

This year, Lukaku has finally come close to harnessing his full potential and become one of the best players in the Premier League. And if he wants to stay with Everton, there's a good chance he'll become the greatest post-war Toffee.

Goal of the day

Radja Nainggolan's second for Roma. (r/soccer)

In the news

Jordan Henderson is out on Monday, but the good news is his injury isn't too serious. (Liverpool Offside)

The Whitecaps and Orlando City have swapped Giles Barnes and Brek Shea. (86 Forever)

Crystal Palace fans accidentally vandalized their own bus.

Gerard Pique thinks refereeing decisions benefit Real Madrid and Sergio Ramos had a clapback. (AS)

Wolfsburg has appointed Arsenal academy director Andries Jonker as their manager. (Bundesliga)

Watford forward Mauro Zarate tore his ACL this weekend. (BBC)

Controversial Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini says he'll be leaving the club soon. (Football Italia)

You should be reading

Stephanie Yang on "Volentourism" in soccer and how to get it right without making it about you. (Unusual Efforts)

Stuart Pragg on Whitehawk's ultras and their message of inclusion. (In Bed With Maradona)

Sid Lowe on Sevilla's derby win and their title chances. (Guardian)

What happened this weekend

Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired Manchester United to a League Cup title. (The Busby Babe)

PSV is probably out of the Eredivisie title race after this awful goalkeeping error.

Lionel Messi scored a late winner for Barcelona against Atlético Madrid. (Barca Blaugranes)

But Real Madrid stayed on top of La Liga with an incredible comeback win over Villarreal. (Managing Madrid)

Bayern Munich just totally embarrassed Hamburg. (Bavarian Football Works)

Roma secured their top three positioning and ruined Inter's Champions League hopes with an impressive performance. (Chiesa Di Totti)

What to watch on Monday (click for listings, all times ET)

EPL: Leicester vs. Liverpool (3 p.m.) -- Liverpool is in a tough top four battle. Leicester is in a tough relegation battle. Watch it.