Everton boss Roberto Martinez not 'unsettled' by Romelu Lukaku's exit claims

Roberto Martinez watches on during the Premier League game between Everton and West Ham United on March 5, 2016
© Getty Images
Everton manager Roberto Martinez insists that he has not been 'unsettled' by Romelu Lukaku's comments that he may leave in the summer.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that he does not feel 'unsettled' by Romelu Lukaku's claims that he may consider leaving the Merseyside outfit at the end of the season.

While on international duty with Belgium, the striker told the media that he could leave Everton in the summer as he wants to fulfil his desire of playing Champions League football.

Lukaku, who has been in fine form this season having scored 25 goals in all competitions, has been linked to Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus.

However, Martinez has claimed that he is not surprised by the speculation and is only interested in what Lukaku delivers on the pitch.

"It's normal," the Spaniard told reporters in Friday's press conference. "Every time we lose the players for the international [break], we get attracted to what the players have to comment [on]. Nothing will take us away from the concentration of the next two months.

"Rom is having a really good season, he needs to make it an outstanding season with the two months that we have left. That's the only talking that I'm looking at - the talking on the pitch in the team and the way he's been growing in confidence this season, that's the only thing that matters. This speculation always [happens] because he's performing well on the pitch and people want to have a say on that.

"[His comments are] not unsettling because [playing in the Champions League] should be the aspiration of everyone - trying to reach the best competitions. At Everton we have that aspiration, we want to be in the Champions League, we want to be competing for titles. We want to create a real good, positive momentum and the players need to be part of that."

Lukaku joined Everton on a permanent deal from Chelsea in the summer of 2014 for a £28m fee.

Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring Everton's first against Stoke on December 28, 2015
Read Next:
Lukaku's agent holds Juventus talks?
>
Related Video
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leicester CityLeicester32209355312469
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs321711457253262
3Arsenal31177752302258
4Manchester CityMan City31166956322454
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd31158839271253
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham311312649371251
7Southampton32138114133847
8Stoke CityStoke32138113639-347
9Liverpool3012994641545
10Chelsea31111194941844
11West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom311010113037-740
12Everton30911105142938
13Bournemouth32108143854-1638
14Watford31107143036-637
15Swansea CitySwansea32910133342-937
16Crystal Palace3197153442-834
17Norwich CityNorwich3287173556-2131
18Sunderland3169163655-1927
19Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3167183158-2725
20Aston Villa3237222262-4016