Chelsea ready to pounce if Everton fail to convince striker Romelu Lukaku to sign a new contract at Goodison Park

Chelsea are leading the race to sign Romelu Lukaku, though Everton remain confident that the striker's announcement this week that he will not sign his new deal is not a final decision and can be reversed.

Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo signed Lukaku for Chelsea in 2011 before the player was moved on when Jose Mourinho came back to the club, joining Everton for £28million.

And the Chelsea board is keen to support Antonio Conte next season, with the potential £60m signing of their former player, now 23, seen as a major building block, given that the future of current centre forward Diego Costa remains uncertain. 

Everton will look to convince Romelu Lukaku that staying with the club is the right decision

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has earmarked the return of Lukaku as a key to the future

Though Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain would also be interested, Chelsea are understood to have the best chance of persuading him to join.

Lukaku surprised Everton this week by announcing he wouldn't be signing a new deal, though his current contract doesn't run out until 2019. 

It is understood that talks remain ongoing and Everton still believe that he could sign an extension to his deal.