Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes that Everton striker Romelu Lukaku is on similar par with Diego Costa in terms of quality.

The Belgian international has been hitting headlines for numerous reasons this season, one of which is the fact that he is the Premier League’s top scorer with 24 goals.

The other is linked to rumours that he could leave the Toffees this season as he is yet to sign a new contract at Goodison Park.

Costa, who is seven short of Lukaku’s goal tally, started the campaign strongly, but he has struggled to find the back of the net of late having scored just once in his last seven outings.

The Telegraph recently reported that the Everton man is keen on returning to Chelsea this summer, three years after he departed Stamford Bridge to join the Toffees.

Hasselbaink, who spent four years of his playing career with the Blues, believes that Lukaku would be a good replacement for Costa, whose own future seems to be up in the air.

The former Queens Park Rangers boss told Sky Sports:

"I think he has matured that's for sure, but if you compare Costa and Lukaku they're very similar. If you compare him to [Harry] Kane they are totally different. The way that Chelsea are playing, he is, along with [Alvaro] Morata, the player you are going to look at to take over from Costa.

"Is he [Lukaku] as good as Costa? I think they are very close. They are very similar, he's not as temperamental but he does lead the line and I think he is still going to become better.”

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