Why PSG Should Pull out All the Stops to Sign Everton's Romelu Lukaku

We are only a few weeks away from the transfer window reopening across Europe, and it is already throwing up some interesting stories, including Paris Saint-Germain, via Barry Glendenning of the Guardian, linked with a move for Everton's Romelu Lukaku.

Although the striker is only 22 years old, the reports suggest that a bid of around £40 million would be needed to prise the Belgian away from Goodison Park. It's always difficult for a club like PSG to find quality that can come straight into the side and play in the Champions League, but Lukaku would be an ideal move—one worth pursuing.

In 124 appearances in the Premier League, the former Chelsea striker has scored 49 goals—an incredible return for someone so young. Despite his age, he has the experience needed to make the step up to the Champions League.

This season under Roberto Martinez, Lukaku has scored seven league goals, six of them from inside the area, according to Squawka. This is key for why he would be a great signing for the French champions.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

For a team that has Blaise Matuidi, Angel Di Maria and even Edinson Cavani, having a forward—who also has four assists this year—who can use his upper-body strength to hold the ball up and bring others unselfishly into play could give the club another dimension.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's contract is up in the summer, and if the Swedish talisman is to leave France at the end of the season, having the Belgian forward already in place for his departure could help the transition.

Lukaku is never going to instantly replace an inspirational figure like Zlatan, but he gives the club a chance to play in a slightly different style while also providing a clinical edge in the penalty area.

His style of play would still give PSG that ability to create from the edge of the box, but they would gain pace, strength and that drive down the channels they can sometimes lack—especially on the counter-attack.

"He would probably be the first to admit his hold-up play could probably be a bit better, but I think we've got to be better for him as well," former Everton player Graeme Sharp told Chris Beesley of the Liverpool Echo.

"We need to give him more of the service that he wants and requires. When he was on loan at West Brom, they played him perfectly, getting balls down to the side to run at defenders, and I think that's Rom at his best."

With the passing ability of Marco Verratti and Di Maria, plus the bursting runs of Matuidi and the creativity of Javier Pastore, Lukaku would receive the ammunition he craves.

His agent, Mino Raiola, has told a French radio station, via Glendenning, that Martinez has said "he would let him leave Everton if a good offer comes in":

"

If we had met each other earlier, he wouldn't have played for Everton. Maybe somewhere else, maybe he would still be at Chelsea. I want to be clear: Romelu is a better striker than Diego Costa and could have done the same as the Spaniard did this season. But the Chelsea directors had decided to buy another star rather than giving confidence to one of their young boys.

"

The same could be said for PSG themselves, with Jean-Christophe Bahebeck on loan and Jean-Kevin Augustin unlikely to be given minutes, but with the French champions trying to bridge that gap between them and Europe's elite, they have to target talents of Lukaku's ability.

PSG's attack has looked like it has missed that clinical edge this season. The Belgian powerhouse could be the piece of the jigsaw that Blanc is missing—both for now and for the future.