Romelu Lukaku Contract Delay Reported Amid Manchester United, Chelsea Rumours

Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly monitoring Romelu Lukaku's situation at Everton amid speculation the club want to include a £90 million buyout clause in his new contract. 

According to Matt Law of the Telegraph, Toffees manager Ronald Koeman is "desperate" for Lukaku to extend his stay, but the new contract is in doubt due to the club's wish to add in the sky-high buyout stipulation.

Lukaku was brought to Goodison Park on permanent terms in July 2014 for what was then a club-record fee of £28 million, moving from Chelsea after a successful 2013-14 season on loan at the Merseyside outfit.

The Belgium international now boasts a prolific record of 81 goals in 156 appearances for the club across all competitions, and Bleacher Report's Alex Dunn recently wrote his progress is in no way down to good luck alone:

The Toffees have no need to panic just yet, though, considering Lukaku's current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2019, giving them another season before he enters the last year of his contract.

That being said, the Merseysiders may also have examined Lukaku's comments after Saturday's 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, provided by Kristoff Terreur of Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, as cause for concern:

The 23-year-old already stands as one of the most competent strikers in the Premier League, and both United and Chelsea have good reason to be on the lookout for world-class frontmen this summer.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is coming to the end of his one-year contract at Old Trafford, and while the 35-year-old has been a smash hit, there's no guarantee just yet the Swede will prolong his stay at the club beyond this season.

Chelsea, on the other hand, made it out of the winter transfer window managing to keep Diego Costa, but Law reported in January that the Spain hitman is "likely to be sold" this summer.

Despite struggling to find his feet in three years at Stamford Bridge, Lukaku is now a force to be reckoned in England's first tier, particularly after a goal against West Brom saw him tie level at the top-scorer summit:

Any buyout clause worth £90 million or more could limit Lukaku's chances of one day sealing a move away from Goodison, however, and while he may be happy at Everton for now, he could look to leave Everton in future.

One can hardly blame the Toffees for wanting to squeeze the most out of any future sale, but it seems demands over contract stipulations could lead to a contract blockade with their own talisman.