Romelu Lukaku has been linked with a return to Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Everton manager Ronald Koeman has reassured the club’s fans that losing Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea in the summer transfer window will not necessarily be the end of the world.

The Belgium international continues to be strongly linked with a summer return to Stamford Bridge after his prolific form for the Toffees this term, and Koeman doesn’t seem too concerned about him leaving.

The Dutchman explained that in his playing days, everyone panicked when Ruud Gullit left PSV for AC Milan, but it turned out to spark a real period of success for the club.

Koeman also suggested there were ways his side could improve up front, and that selling Lukaku could allow them to try a different approach.

Ronald Koeman seems to be preparing Everton fans for Lukaku’s departure (Picture: Getty)

‘In my career, we lost one time Ruud Gullit in PSV and everybody was afraid,’ Koeman said. ‘And we signed some other new players and won, in 1988, the championship, the (Dutch) Cup, the European Cup. That is football.

‘Of course, you like to keep your best striker, your top scorer, but we also need around that position more productivity.

‘I said before maybe you lose at one side something… but I am not talking about what will happen if he does not stay next season.’

Koeman did, however, say that Everton have not yet received any formal offers for the 24-year-old and that he’s confident that means he will remain at Goodison Park.

‘He has two years more contract. I expect that he will stay because until now I did not hear anything from the board that (any) one club is asking about Lukaku,’ he said.

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