Romelu Lukaku's agent has opened talks with Tottenham Hotspur ahead of a £25 million summer transfer, which contradicts what his client said two months ago.
"It is high time that I play in the Champions League," Lukaku told the Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws. "It is the next step I need in my development. Full stop."
It is likelier Everton, who signed Lukaku on loan from Chelsea last year, will be in European football's elite competition next season than Tottenham, whose risible season took another turn for the worse with a 4-0 thrashing at Liverpool on Sunday.
Romelu Lukaku has scored 13 goals for Everton this season
However, Lukaku's agent Christophe Henrotay told Belgium newspaper Het Nieuwsblad: "I'm looking for a club for Romelu. And yes, I've talked to Daniel Levy once, but that doesn't mean Romelu will definitely join Spurs. That's not a talking point at this moment.
"There aren't 20 teams that can afford to buy Romelu. He won't go from Everton to, let's say, Swansea. There's also a difference between Everton that plays against relegation and an Everton that fights for European football."
Romelu Lukaku, 2013-14
Everton v Newcastle United - Premier League(01 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Everton striker Romelu Lukaku (c) celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on September 30, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Newcastle United - Premier League(02 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Everton striker Romelu Lukaku (c) celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on September 30, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Newcastle United - Premier League(03 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Everton striker Romelu Lukaku (c) celebrates as Newcastle keeper Tim Krul (r) and defender Davide Santon react after scoring the third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on September 30, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Newcastle United - Premier League(04 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Everton striker Romelu Lukaku (c) celebrates as Newcastle keeper Tim Krul reacts after scoring the third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on September 30, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Newcastle United - Premier League(05 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Everton striker Romelu Lukaku (c) celebrates after scoring the third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on September 30, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Everton - Premier League(06 of28)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates with teammate Steven Naismith (L) after scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Everton at Etihad Stadium on October 5, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-ENG-PR-MAN CITY-EVERTON(07 of28)
Everton's Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on October 5, 2013. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Everton - Premier League(08 of28)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Everton at Etihad Stadium on October 5, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Aston Villa v Everton - Premier League(09 of28)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates his side's win during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Everton at Villa Park on October 26, 2013 in Birmingham, England (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Aston Villa v Everton - Premier League(10 of28)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Everton at Villa Park on October 26, 2013 in Birmingham, England (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Aston Villa v Everton - Premier League(11 of28)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates his team's win during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Everton at Villa Park on October 26, 2013 in Birmingham, England (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-ENG-PR-ASTON VILLA-EVERTON(12 of28)
Everton's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Everton at Villa Park in Birmingham on October 26, 2013. AFP PHOTO/BEN STANSALL RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Liverpool - Premier League(13 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on November 23, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Liverpool - Premier League(14 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on November 23, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Liverpool - Premier League(15 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on November 23, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Liverpool - Premier League(16 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on November 23, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Liverpool - Premier League(17 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on November 23, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Stoke City - Premier League(18 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: Asmir Begovic, Goalkeeper of Stoke City looks on dejected as Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Stoke City at Goodison Park on November 30, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newcastle United v Everton - Premier League(19 of28)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 25: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates scoring their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Everton at St James' Park on March 25, 2014 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Swansea City - Premier League(20 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Swansea City at Goodison Park on March 22, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-ENG-FACUP-ARSENAL-EVERTON(21 of28)
Everton's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their first goal during the English FA Cup quarter final football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO/GLYN KIRK RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-ENG-FACUP-ARSENAL-EVERTON(22 of28)
Everton's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their first goal during the English FA Cup quarter final football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO/GLYN KIRK RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v West Ham - Premier League(23 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and West Ham at Goodison Park on March 1, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v West Ham - Premier League(24 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and West Ham at Goodison Park on March 1, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v West Ham - Premier League(25 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and West Ham at Goodison Park on March 1, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v West Ham - Premier League(26 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and West Ham at Goodison Park on March 1, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-ENG-PR-EVERTON-SOUTHAMPTON(27 of28)
Everton's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park in Liverpool, northwest England on December 29, 2013. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATESRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton v Southampton - Premier League(28 of28)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park on December 29, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Everton almost certainly cannot afford to invest £25m in a single player, having spent less than that sum on Joel Robles, Arouna Koné and James McCarthy in the summer.
Chelsea boss José Mourinho appears keen to offload Lukaku, who has scored 13 goals at Goodison Park this season. The Portuguese has criticised the Belgium striker a number of times this campaign, along with Chelsea's current misfiring forwards.
Lukaku has less than 18 months remaining on his Blues deal.